Uterine Motility in the Cow During Puerperium

Abstract

The objective of the study was to determine uterine motility during the postpartum period in cattle. In the present study spontaneous uterine activity was recorded during postpartum period using electrodes which were surgically implanted into the myometrium 4-6 weeks before parturition. After the placenta has been released 4-8 hours post part, spontaneous uterine motility drastically decreased until the second week post part.. The effects of oxytocin, depotocin, prostaglandin, ergometrin, detomidin on the uterine contractility, during postpartum period were investigated. Oxytocin and carbotocin given intravenously always provoked strong uterine contractions. Prostaglandin F2alpha and detomidinum HC1 stimulated uterine activity in the early puerperium. Following administration of ergometrin unequal response was recorded. Ultrasonographic examinations were performed daily with real time B-mode scanner equipped with a 5.0 MHz linear-array transducer (Aloka 210, Pie Medical). 10 multiparous Black-White-Holstein cows between 2 and 4 years old and 550-650 kg b.w. were used. A 6-min scan of the longitudinal view of the uterine body was recorded using video cassette recorder connected to the ultrasound scanner. A scoring system was used to determines uterine motility. Contractility scores were higher just after parturition then in the following times. Blood samples were collected daily from jugular vein for plasma progesterone and estrogen concentrations. Changes in uterine activity were associated with plasma progesterone and estrogen level.

Post-calving administration of uterine stimulants does not improve reproductive performance in dairy cows

“…Either an increase or no change in the total duration of electrical activity was reported. The same was observed during ultrasound investigation (Gajewski et al 1999).…”

“…In addition, the direct uterotonic effect of dinoprost, expressed by increased electrical activity in the myometrium, was demonstrated (Gajewski et al 1999), even if it was not fully in agreement with another study in which different methods of evaluation of uterine motility were used (Hirsbrunner et al 1998). In contrast, the effects of ergometrin on uterine contractility were inconsistent, when recorded using electrodes surgically implanted into the myometrium before parturition (Gajewski et al 1999). Either an increase or no change in the total duration of electrical activity was reported.…”

“…Therefore, preventive systematic treatments of uterine diseases without individual investigation of cows, including uterine stimulants or antibiotics (Mollo et al 1997;Palomares et al 2010;Dubuc et al 2011;Kaya et al 2012;McLaughlin et al 2013), have been described, although results have been conflicting. Nevertheless, direct uterotonic effects of oxytocin or dinoprost on the myometrium have been reported (Gajewski et al 1999;Bajcsy et al 2006) with doi: 10.17221/8492-VETMED possible implications for reproductive programs in dairy herds. The effect of ergometrin on the myometrium was inconsistent (Gajewski et al 1999); however, this drug was traditionally used in the Czech Republic and many articles concerning its effects have been published.…”

“…Nevertheless, direct uterotonic effects of oxytocin or dinoprost on the myometrium have been reported (Gajewski et al 1999;Bajcsy et al 2006) with doi: 10.17221/8492-VETMED possible implications for reproductive programs in dairy herds. The effect of ergometrin on the myometrium was inconsistent (Gajewski et al 1999); however, this drug was traditionally used in the Czech Republic and many articles concerning its effects have been published. Because of contradictory results in studies with one-time use of uterotonics in postpartum cattle, the objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of repeated administration of oxytocin, in combination with a single administration of ergometrin or dinoprost, on the occurrence of clinical endometritis and subsequent reproductive performance in dairy cows.…”

Supplementation with Calcium Salts of Linoleic and trans‐Octadecenoic Acids Improves Fertility of Lactating Dairy Cows

“…2002). The exact mechanism through which prostaglandins participate in involution of uterine tissue is not completely understood, but the increase in electrical activity of myometrial cells, and consequent increase in uterine contraction, has been implicated (Gajewski et al. 1999).…”