Effect of intrauterine ozone therapy on endometrial angiogenesis of non-pregnant mares

• Grant number: 19/11450-3
• Support type: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Effective date (Start): August 01, 2019
• Effective date (End): July 31, 2020
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Veterinary Medicine - Animal Reproduction
• Principal Investigator: Jair Camargo Ferreira
• Grantee: Letícia Mara Cardoso
• Home Institution: Pró-Reitoria Adjunta de Pesquisa e Pós-Graduação. Universidade de Franca (UNIFRAN). Franca , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The present study will describe, for the first time, the effect of ozone (O3) therapy on endometrial angiogenesis of non-pregnant mares. A total of 21 females will be assigned into one of four groups according to the treatment: O3, ½O3 and Control groups (n = 7 mares/group). Mares from O3, ½O3 and Control groups will receive intrauterine treatment with ozone-oxygen gas mixture containing 42ug, 21ug and 0ug O3/mL, respectively. The treatments will be performed every three days and during six days. In each treatment, a flow of 0.25 mL gas/min will be infused during three consecutive minutes. Endometrial fragments and inflammatory cells will be collected immediately before the first treatment and 24 hours after the third insufflation by uterine biopsy and endometrial cytology, respectively. The histological analysis of the uterine angiogenesis will be based on the number of endometrial blood vessels, the degree of endometrial vascularization and the vascularized endometrial area. In addition, six endometrial morphological structures will be photodocumented for posterior digital analysis: a) Diameter of blood vessels, b) intraglandular secretion, c) luminal epithelium height, d) glandular epithelium height, e) glandular diameter, and f) glandular lumen.