Inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines in the endometrium of cows during anaphrodisia and estrous cycle

Abstract

Infertility and sexual cycle disorders in cows are an urgent and widespread problem in cattle breeding, causing significant losses to farms. At the same time, a detailed understanding of the cellular and molecular mechanisms in the bovine uterus is crucial to explain and avoid infertility in dairy cows. The research aims to determine the concentration of tumour necrosis factor (TNFα), interleukin-1 (IL-1) and interlekin-4 (IL-4) in endometrial homogenates during oestrus, proestrus, corpus luteum and anaphrodisia caused by endometritis, as well as lactation. The research material was homogenates of cow endometrium taken from the horns of the uterus in its upper third. The methods used to determine the content of IL-1, IL-4 and TNFα in endometrial samples were enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay with a ratio (tissue homogenatephosphate-salt buffer). The results of the study revealed changes in the content of IL-4, IL-1 and TNF-α in the functional layer of the endometrium during anaphrodisia and certain stages of the oestrous cycle. A significant increase in the content of TNF-α and a decrease in the levels of IL-1 and IL-4 in the endometrium compared to the same indicator during oestrus were found. No significant difference in the level of IL-1 during proestrus compared to the corpus luteum was found, as a result of the extinction of the transient phlogogenic reaction inherent in the oestrous endometrium at this time, due to the cytokine balance, which prepares the best conditions for zygote implantation. It was found that the level of IL-1 during oestrus significantly increases relative to the corpus luteum and proestrus stages. It was determined that the concentration of IL-4 in the functional layer of the endometrium of cows suffering from afterbirth retention and endometritis is lower than the same indicator during oestrus, which confirms the inhibition of cell proliferation and differentiation. The data obtained can be used to optimise the correction of sexual cycling in cows with anaphrodisia