AVALIAÇÃO DA LIMPEZA UTERINA NA ÉGUA APÓS A INFUSÃO DE CARVÃO EVALUATION OF UTERINE CLEARANCE IN THE MARE AFTER CHARCOAL INFUSION

Persistent mating-induced endometritis consists in a common cause of infertility in the mare and could be related to a failure in the uterine physical clearance mechanisms. The aim of this study was to evaluate the mechanical capacity of uterine clearance in the mare, using uterine charcoal infusion as a mean to evaluate endo-miometrial function and the lymphatic drainage in animals susceptible or not to endometritis. Thirty eight mares, 4 to 23-y-o, with an at least two-year history of infertility and clinical/histological signs of chronic endometritis and uterine clearance failure, were used in this study. All the mares received uterine infusions with 250 and 500mg of charcoal diluted in 20mL of distilled water, followed by uterine lavage 24 and 48 hours after the infusions. The uterine fluid was evaluated according to color after the lavage and, later, the amount of charcoal was determined by dry weight. Independently of the charcoal dose, mares with more severe endometrial histological changes did not clear the infused charcoal as fast as the control mares (P<0.01). The evaluation of the charcoal uterine clearance capacity is more efficient if performed after a period of 48 hours after infusion than after 24 hours.