DOES ARTIFICIAL-INSEMINATION WITH CHILLED, EXTENDED SEMEN REDUCE THE ANTIGENIC CHALLENGE TO THE MARES UTERUS COMPARED WITH NATURAL SERVICE

Uterine response in infection-resistant mares (n = 5) at 48 h after AI was compared with that following natural service in these same mares, and after AI in infection-susceptible mares (n = 6). In the resistant mares, small amounts of uterine fluid were detected and bacteria were isolated infrequently at 48 h after breeding, but cytological examina tion of uterine flushes revealed that a significant degree of endometr itis was present. There was no difference in the degree of inflammator y response by 48 h after AI or natural mating. In 4 of the 6 susceptib le mares moderate to large accumulations of intrauterine fluid were de tected at 48 h after AI, and massive uterine neutrophilia was present in all 6 mares. It was concluded that there was no evidence that using conventional AI techniques limited the inflammatory response of the m ate's uterus. (C) 1997 by Elsevier Science Inc.