Abstract

The effect of sub-clinical endometritis (scEndo) in early lactation on follicular amino acid (AA) concentrations was determined. On D21 and D42 postpartum cows were classified as having scEndo or Clean based on uterine cytology; >18% polymorphonuclear (PMN) cells amongst uterine nucleated cells. On D21 and D42, 35% and 7% of cows respectively were classified as having scEndo, with a large proportion of scEndo cows having self-resolved the infection by D42. Follicular histidine (P = 0.04), as well as alanine, aspartate and serine concentrations (P <0.1) were higher in scEndo compared with Clean cows. The effect of change in uterine status from D21 to D42 resulted in increased (P <0.1) follicular glutamate, ornithine and valine concentrations in cows that resolved infection. Correlation coefficients were determined to test the relationship between plasma and follicular AA concentrations. A greater number of AA in Resolved cows showed no relationship between plasma and follicular concentrations compared to Clean cows. Thus, scEndo is associated with an increase in follicular histidine and an increase in the concentration of several AA when a uterine infection is resolved. This study demonstrates that scEndo may be responsible for long-term alterations in follicular AA concentrations that could potentially result in altered oocyte viability.

PJ, Back, T Lopdell, MC Berg, and MP Green

Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production, Volume 71, Invercargill, 296-300, 2011