Effect of intrauterine infusion of Escherichia coli on hormonal patterns in gilts during the oestrous cycle.

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of intrauterine Escherichia coli infusion on the patterns of plasma LH, prolactin, progesterone, androstenedione, testosterone, oestrone, oestradiol-17beta, cortisol and 13,14-dihydro-15-keto-prostaglandin F2alpha (PGFM) in gilts during the oestrous cycle. On day 4 of the oestrous cycle (day 0), 25 mL of saline or 25 mL of Escherichia coli suspension, containing 10(7) colony forming units x mL(-1), was infused once into the each uterine horn in group I or II respectively. The control gilts developed a new oestrous cycle at the expected time but not bacteria-treated. Endometritis and vaginal discharge developed in all gilts after Escherichia coli infusion. The administration of Escherichia coli resulted in a reduction of plasma levels of LH, prolactin, oestrone and oestradiol-17beta (P < 0.05-0.001), mainly on days 15-18 after treatment (expected perioestrous period). During this time, the plasma androstenedione level was elevated (P < 0.05-0.001) after bacteria infusion. In the gilts receiving bacteria, progesterone concentration decreased from day 8 after treatment and was low until the end of the study (P < 0.05-0.001). On days 8-12 after bacteria administration, the level of PGFM was higher (P < 0.001) than that found in the control group. These results suggest that the developing inflammatory process of the endometrium in gilts following Escherichia coli infusion significantly affects the pituitary-ovarian axis function as well as prostaglandin production leading to anoestrus.