After the acclimatization period, the gilts were assigned randomly (day 3 of the second estrous cycle—day 0 of the research), into following groups (n = 5 in each group): Escherichia coli (E. coli) group (gilts with intrauterine E. coli injections), SAL group (gilts with intrauterine saline injections), and CON group (gilts with a "sham" operation only).
Experiment procedures have been published earlier [24 (link)]. Most importantly, following premedication (by atropine, azaperone, and ketamine hydrochloride) and general anaesthesia (by ketamine hydrochloride) median laparotomy was performed. 50 ml of E. coli suspension (content: 109 cfu/ml, bacterial strain O25:K23/a/:H1; Department of Microbiology, National Veterinary Research Institute, Puławy, Poland) were injected into each uterine horn in the E. coli group. In turn, in the SAL group, 50 ml of saline solution were injected. Bacterial suspension and saline solution were injected into each horn in five places (10 ml/each place) at a similar distance from each other. After that, horns were massaged to evenly place E. coli suspension and saline. In the animals of CON group, only median laparotomy was performed. All study gilts were untreated in the time from surgery through euthanasia. Eight days later (expected day 11 of the estrous cycle), the pigs were euthanised (by an overdose of sodium pentobarbital) and their uteri were collected. For study of the uterine contractile activity, fragments of the horns collected from their middle parts were transported (on ice) to the laboratory within 5 min of collection.
Experiment procedures have been published earlier [24 (link)]. Most importantly, following premedication (by atropine, azaperone, and ketamine hydrochloride) and general anaesthesia (by ketamine hydrochloride) median laparotomy was performed. 50 ml of E. coli suspension (content: 109 cfu/ml, bacterial strain O25:K23/a/:H1; Department of Microbiology, National Veterinary Research Institute, Puławy, Poland) were injected into each uterine horn in the E. coli group. In turn, in the SAL group, 50 ml of saline solution were injected. Bacterial suspension and saline solution were injected into each horn in five places (10 ml/each place) at a similar distance from each other. After that, horns were massaged to evenly place E. coli suspension and saline. In the animals of CON group, only median laparotomy was performed. All study gilts were untreated in the time from surgery through euthanasia. Eight days later (expected day 11 of the estrous cycle), the pigs were euthanised (by an overdose of sodium pentobarbital) and their uteri were collected. For study of the uterine contractile activity, fragments of the horns collected from their middle parts were transported (on ice) to the laboratory within 5 min of collection.
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