Investigations on the endometrial response to intrauterine and oral administration of N-acetylcysteine in oestrous mares

AuszugEndometritis is the most important cause of reduced fertility in mares and has been reported to be the third most common medical condition in horses (Traub-Dargatz et al. 1991). It therefore inflicts major losses on the equine breeding industry (Causey 2006; LeBlanc and Causey 2009) and can be divided into acute infectious, chronic infectious or post-matinginduced endometritis (PMIE; LeBlanc 2010). Accumulation of intrauterine (i. u.) fluid and mucus can be found in the majority of mares suffering from endometritis. Uterine inflammation leads to an increase in fluid and mucus production (Freeman et al. 1990; Causey et al. 2000; Causey et al. 2008). These increased amounts of i. u. fluid and mucus during oestrus or after breeding are associated with decreased pregnancy rates (McKinnon et al. 1988; Pycock and Newcombe 1996). This might be due to a delayed forward progression of spermatozoa in the uterine lumen. Moreover, i. u. fluid and mucus cause an irritation of the endometrium and therefore lead to a higher risk for the development of i. u. infection (Rutllant et al. 2005; Causey 2006; LeBlanc and Causey 2009).