Effects of Urea Infusion on the Uterine Luminal Environment of Dairy Cows

Previous research indicates that high plasma urea nitrogen (PUN) concentrations are associated with decreased fertility in lactating dairy cows. The objective of this study was to monitor changes in the uterine environment during acute elevation of PUN. Lactating dairy cows (n=8) were infused with s...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of dairy science 2004-09, Vol.87 (9), p.2896-2901
Main Authors: Rhoads, M.L., Gilbert, R.O., Lucy, M.C., Butler, W.R.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animal productions
Animals
Biological and medical sciences
blood plasma
Blood Urea Nitrogen
Cattle
dairy cow
dairy cows
Dinoprost - analysis
Dinoprostone - analysis
Female
female fertility
Food industries
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
Kinetics
Lactation
Milk and cheese industries. Ice creams
Progesterone - blood
Proteins - analysis
reproduction
Terrestrial animal productions
Therapeutic Irrigation
urea
Urea - administration & dosage
urea nitrogen
uterus
Uterus - chemistry
Uterus - metabolism
Vertebrates
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Summary:Previous research indicates that high plasma urea nitrogen (PUN) concentrations are associated with decreased fertility in lactating dairy cows. The objective of this study was to monitor changes in the uterine environment during acute elevation of PUN. Lactating dairy cows (n=8) were infused with saline or urea (0.01g of urea/h per kg of body weight) through jugular vein catheters on d 7 after estrus. After 24h, cows were switched to the opposite treatment for a second 24-h infusion period. Blood samples were collected every 2h, and the pH within the lumen of the uterine horn ipsilateral to the corpus luteum was recorded every 6h. At the end of each 24-h infusion period, 30mL of sterile saline was flushed into the uterine lumen and immediately retrieved. Mean PUN concentration increased from 16.6±1.3mg/dL during saline infusion to 22.6±1.3 mg/dL during urea infusion. Uterine pH decreased during urea infusion from 7.08±0.07 at 6h to 6.88±0.08 at 18h, but was unchanged during saline infusion (7.01±0.08 at 6h to 7.06±0.07 at 18h). Protein concentration, PGF2α, and prostaglandin E2 concentrations in uterine lavage samples were not different between treatments. The results of this study indicate that a short-term increase in PUN can exert direct effects on the uterine environment by decreasing uterine pH.
ISSN:0022-0302
1525-3198
DOI:10.3168/jds.S0022-0302(04)73420-7