Hormonal concentrations in bitches with primary uterine inertia

Normal labor is accompanied by sequential changes in blood concentrations of prostaglandin F2alpha (measured as 15-ketodihydro-PGF2 alpha=PGFM), progesterone, estradiol, oxytocin, vasopressin, and of elevated cortisol levels. The aim of this study was to investigate hormone concentrations in dogs diagnosed with primary uterine inertia before and during treatment by cesarean section. The hypothesis was the dogs would have abnormally low plasma concentrations in one or several of the hormones involved in parturition. The study comprised seven bitches with total primary uterine inertia (dystocia group) treated with cesarean section and six healthy bitches (control group) subjected to planned cesarean section. Blood samples were taken before anesthesia, before surgery started, on delivery of the first puppy and on delivery of the last puppy. The progesterone:PGFM ratio in plasma was higher in the dystocia group than in the control group, but the serum estradiol concentration did not differ between groups. The plasma concentrations of oxytocin and vasopressin increased in both groups when the first puppies were delivered, but both hormones were more elevated in the control group than in the dystocia group on delivery of the last puppies. The plasma cortisol concentration increased to the same level in both groups. In conclusion, the ratio between progesterone and PGFM was higher and the oxytocin and vasopressin concentrations lower in the dystocia dogs than in the control dogs. The findings indicate that these hormones are involved in the pathophysiology of total primary uterine inertia in bitches.