Laparoscopic application of PGE2 to re-establish oviducal patency and fertility in infertile mares: a preliminary study.
Authors: Allen W R, Wilsher S, Morris L, Crowhurst J S, Hillyer M H, Neal H N
Journal: Equine veterinary journal
Summary
# Editorial Summary Persistent infertility in mares without obvious reproductive tract pathology may result from temporary oviducal blockages caused by accumulated cellular debris rather than irreversible fibrosis, a hypothesis that researchers tested by delivering prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) directly onto the oviductal surface via laparoscopy. Fourteen of fifteen mares with documented breeding histories of one to four years of unexplained conception failure (aged 10–21 years) subsequently conceived within the same or next breeding season following treatment with PGE2-laced triacetin gel applied laparoscopically to both oviducts. The 93% success rate strongly suggests that oviducal obstruction in these cases involved moveable accumulations rather than permanent adhesions from salpingitis, supporting the therapeutic mechanism of prostaglandin-induced oviducal smooth muscle contraction and clearance. For practitioners managing subfertile or infertile mares with normal breeding soundness examinations, this minimally invasive technique offers a practical diagnostic and therapeutic option before pursuing more invasive interventions or dismissing the mare as irredeemably infertile. Further prospective studies are needed to refine case selection criteria, determine optimal dosing and timing within the oestrous cycle, and confirm the procedure's efficacy in larger populations.
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Practical Takeaways
- •Consider oviducal obstruction as a diagnosis in mares with unexplained infertility and no identifiable pathology on standard examination; this minimally invasive laparoscopic procedure offers a high success rate (93%) for restoring fertility
- •Oviducal blockages may be functional/temporary rather than structural, meaning they can potentially be resolved rather than accepted as permanent infertility
- •This technique provides a practical alternative to breeding retirement for older mares (up to 21 years) with otherwise normal reproductive anatomy but persistent conception failure
Key Findings
- •14 of 15 mares (93%) conceived within the same or subsequent breeding season following laparoscopic PGE2 application to oviducts
- •Oviducal obstruction appears to result from moveable debris accumulations rather than permanent fibrous adhesions from salpingitis
- •Mares had exhibited 1-4 years of unexplained conception failure prior to treatment, ranging in age from 10-21 years
- •Laparoscopic guided administration of PGE2-laced triacetin gel directly to oviducal surface restored fertility in previously infertile mares