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Beyond Routine Ultrasonography: Peri-Insemination Biomarkers in Relation to Reproductive Competence in Warmblood
Raimonda Tamulionytė-Skėrė1, Sigita Kerzienė2, Vytuolis Žilaitis1
1Large Animal Clinic, Veterinary Academy, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, LT-47181 Kaunas, Lithuania.
Animals : an Open Access Journal From MDPI
|July 15, 2026
Summary
Estradiol levels before insemination are linked to pregnancy success in mares. Higher estradiol concentrations were observed in pregnant mares, suggesting it may offer insights beyond routine ultrasound for reproductive management.
Area of Science:
- Reproductive biology
- Veterinary medicine
- Endocrinology
Background:
- Accurate assessment of mare periovulatory status is crucial for efficient reproductive management.
- Routine ultrasonography alone may not fully capture reproductive competence.
- Biomarkers could enhance the evaluation of mare fertility.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate hormonal (estradiol), inflammatory (interleukin-6), and clinical biomarkers in relation to pregnancy outcome in mares.
- To determine if these biomarkers provide additional information to ultrasonography for assessing reproductive competence.
- To investigate the association of estradiol, IL-6, follicle size, uterine edema, age, and parity with pregnancy success.
Main Methods:
- Thirty-one mares were studied, with assessments conducted 24 hours prior to insemination.
- Measured parameters included estradiol concentration, follicle size, uterine edema score, and interleukin-6 (IL-6) concentration.
- Pregnancy outcomes were determined 14 days post-ovulation; statistical analyses included non-parametric tests and correlation analysis.
Main Results:
- Estradiol concentrations were significantly higher in pregnant mares compared to non-pregnant mares (p = 0.004).
- A moderate positive correlation was found between mare age and estradiol concentration (Spearman's rho = 0.599, p < 0.01).
- No significant associations were found for uterine edema score, follicle size, or IL-6 concentration with pregnancy outcome.
Conclusions:
- Estradiol concentration at insemination demonstrated the strongest association with subsequent pregnancy status in mares.
- Estradiol may offer additional insights into periovulatory reproductive status beyond routine ultrasonographic evaluation.
- While estradiol levels correlate with age, this does not fully explain its association with fertility, suggesting its independent value in predicting pregnancy outcome.
