A review of in vivo and in vitro studies of the mare endometrium

• Published in: Animal reproduction science 2020-11, Vol.222, p.106605-106605, Article 106605
• Main Authors: Thompson, Riley E., Premanandan, Christopher, Pukazhenthi, Budhan S., Whitlock, Brian K.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Cell culture; Endometrium; Equine; In vitro; Mare; Uterus
• ISSN: 0378-4320; 1873-2232
• DOI: 10.1016/j.anireprosci.2020.106605

•Equine endometrium is unique and requires additional studies through in vitro methods.•Endometrial in vitro culture models have advanced in both mice and humans.•Improved models will lead to increased understanding of equine endometrium. The inner layer of the uterus, the endometrium, is responsible and necessary for many reproductive functions. Normal reproductive cyclicity, maternal recognition of pregnancy, maternal interaction with the embryo, and interaction of the reproductive tract with pathogens are dependent on the endometrium. Although most studies have been conducted in vivo using live animals, recent advances in in vitro approaches could facilitate future research in a laboratory setting with minimal effect on animals. Many reproductive studies have been performed in vivo and in vitro in equids, but new in vitro methods to study the endometrium of mares remain unexplored. In this review, there is a description of the normal anatomy and physiology of the mare endometrium in vivo, in vitro endometrial cell culture techniques that have been previously described for the mare, and opportunities for future reproductive research using in vitro methods.