CONCENTRATIONS OF TOTAL PROTEIN, ALBUMIN AND IMMUNOGLOBULINS IN UNDILUTED UTERINE FLUID OF GYNECOLOGICALLY HEALTHY MARES

Undiluted uterine fluid from 20 Warmblood/Standardbred mares (5 to 14 yr old) was recovered by absorption to an intrauterine tampon. The mar es were considered gynecologically healthy based on a clinical examina tion including uterine swabs for cytology and bacteriology as well as endometrial biopsy examinations. The protein profiles (SDS-PAGE) and c oncentrations of total protein, albumin, and immunoglobulins (Ig) A an d G in the uterine fluid were examined and compared with the same prot eins in serum. Major peaks were identified on the obtained protein pro files, and there was a clear similarity between the serum profiles and uterine fluid profiles. Variability in protein concentrations among m ares was considerably larger in uterine fluid than in serum. Concentra tions of the various proteins in uterine fluid were 44 to 56% of those in serum, except for IgA, which had a similar concentration in both s erum and uterine fluid. Concentration of the proteins corresponding to peak No. 3 (molecular weight 60 to 71 kDa) in uterine fluid was highe r (P< 0.05) in younger mares than in older ones. Parity had no effect on the recorded protein concentrations. The present study of gynecolog ically healthy mares showed that there is a large individual variation in the protein composition of uterine fluid. The results suggest that age, but not parity, may affect this composition, and indicate furthe r that there is considerable transudation to the uterine cavity. (C) 1 998 by Elsevier Science Inc.