Abstract
The aim of the study was to evaluate the oxygen metabolism of neutrophils in peripheral blood of mares in relation to intensity of endometrium inflammations. The study involved 36 half-breed mares, aged 4-22 years, showing fertility disturbances. In 26 mares neutrophils were found in uteral smears, which indicated endometritis (15 - moderate inflammation and 11 - severe inflammation). In the rest mares, cytological examination excluded inflammation. Blood samples were evaluated in terms of neutrophils chemiluminescence without stimulation (CL-WS) and with stimulation by opsonised zymosan (CL-OZ). The study demonstrated (only in case of CL-WS) an increase in chemiluminescence of cells in mares with a severe inflammation of the endometrium. The increased chemiluminescence activity was accompanied by a decrease in activation index (OZ/WS) of neutrophils, suggesting some imbalance between production and elimination of reactive oxygen species (ROS). The correlation analysis demonstrated a statistically significant relation between the intensity of the uterus inflammation, which was verified by cytological examination and CL-WS of peripheral blood neutrophils, as well as their activation index. The obtained results suggest that activated neutrophils are an important source of ROS which can play a role in the pathogenesis of endometritis in mares.