Prostaglandin F2 alpha metabolite levels in normal and uterine-infected postpartum cows.

The stable metabolite of prostaglandin F2 alpha,15 keto-13,14-dihydroprostaglandin F2 alpha (PGFM), was measured from peripheral blood samples collected at specified intervals postpartum from 7 normal dairy cows and 4 cows with apparent endometritis. Plasma PFGM levels were significantly (P less than .05) elevated for the first 5 days postpartum in the cows with endometritis (ranging from 4.0 to 5.0 ng/ml) compared to the controls (approximately 1.0 ng/ml). Beyond 5 days postpartum, plasma PGFM levels were not significantly different and decreased to approximately 0.4 ng/ml by day 13 in both groups. Time to uterine involution was not different between groups (less than 30 days). Therefore, uterine infections in cows during the puerperium was associated with elevated circulating PGFM levels. These findings and the observation that PGF2 alpha is not uterotonic in the puerperal cow do not suggest a therapeutic use of PGF2 alpha in order to evacuate the uterus.