Some physiological and pharmacological factors affecting uterine motility as measured by electromyography in the mare

Two intact and 2 ovariectomized mares aged 3-16 years had bipolar electrodes implanted in the myometrium to measure electromyographic (emg) activity during normal and exogenously simulated (with oestrogen and progesterone) cyclical activity (anoestrus, transition, oestrus and dioestrus). Oxytocin, cloprostenol, propantheline bromide and clenbuterol were administered during each cycle stage. In 1 mare, emg activity was recorded during natural breeding (4 times) and through the first 20 days of pregnancy. Simultaneous intrauterine pressure recordings (IUP) using an open tipped catheter system were taken occasionally. For mares in oestrus, we recorded short bursts of high amplitude emg activity separated by quiet periods, a pattern that is indicative of uterine contractions. During dioestrus the duration of emg activity increased, but amplitude decreased and interspersed quiet periods were less well defined, indicative of uterine tonus. The emg patterns seen in anoestrus and transition were intermediate. At breeding there was a short-lived increase in emg activity, unlikely to be caused by endogenous hormone release. During early pregnancy the emg characteristics varied depending on whether the fertilized ovum was in the oviduct, migratory or fixed, with emg activity increasing to 100% after Day 16 when uterine tone is maximal. Oxytocin and cloprostenol caused prolonged emg activity followed initially by a short burst pattern that was most pronounced in oestrus and least in dioestrus and suggests uterine motility is stimulated to a greater extent during oestrus. Propantheline decreased emg activity, whereas cloprostenol caused minimal changes. IUP increased with uterine stimulants and decreased with uterine relaxants, but showed little variation between cyclic states. There was little correlation, statistically or visually, between IUP and emg activity during the oestrous cycle with or without drug treatment. Because emg analysis gave consistent results and demonstrated significant differences between oestrus and dioestrus that neither agreed nor correlated with IUP, the validity of the IUP recording technique used in this study (as well as those used in general for the mare) is questioned. It is suggested that extrauterine factors such as intestinal motility and intra-abdominal pressure changes could influence IUP responses.