Transcriptional abundance of antioxidant enzymes in endometrium and their circulating levels in Zebu cows with and without uterine infection

- Low concentrations of TAC and high concentrations of MDA & NO during peripartum period was observed in cows that developed postpartum uterine infection than normal cows.
- Lower endometrial expession of CAT and GPx4 and higher expression of SOD2 on the day of calving was found in cows with postpartum uterine infection than normal cows.
- ROC analysis revealed that serum concentrations of TAC, MDA & NO could be considered as sensitive and specific molecules during peripartum period to differentiate uterine infected cows from normal, healthy cows.

Oxidative stress during peripartum period may compromise the uterine immunity. In the present study, we assessed the oxidative stress and antioxidant status during peripartum period and studied their relationship with postpartum uterine infection in dairy cows. Peripheral blood concentrations of total antioxidant capacity (TAC), malondialdehyde (MDA) and nitric oxide (NO) were determined (day −21, −7, on the day of calving and day +7, +21, +35) in normal (n = 11), puerperal metritic (n = 7) and clinical endometritic (n = 6) cows. Endometrial biopsy was performed on the day of calving and expression of CAT, GPx4 and SOD2 genes was studied using qRT-PCR. Puerperal metritic cows had significantly (P < 0.05) lower TAC (on day −7, day 0, day +7, +21 & +35), higher MDA (on day −21, −7 & on the day of calving) and NO (on day 0, +7 & day +35) concentrations compared to normal cows. Similarly, clinical endometritic cows had significantly (P < 0.05) lower TAC (on day −7, 0, +7 & +21), higher MDA (on day −21, −7, +7 and +35) and NO (on day +7, +21 & +35) concentrations compared to normal cows. The expression of CAT and GPx4 genes was lower (P < 0.05) and SOD2 gene was higher (P < 0.05) in endometrial tissue of cows that developed uterine infection compared to normal cows. The relationship of peripheral levels of MDA and NO with antioxidant enzymes expression in endometrial tissue was found significant. Receiver operator characteristic analysis revealed that the concentrations of TAC on day −7 to day +35, MDA on day −21 to day +7 and NO on the day of calving to day +35 were highly correlated to the development of postpartum uterine infection in cows. It may be inferred that the low serum TAC level and high level of lipid peroxidation and NO during peripartum period influenced the endometrial expression of anitioxidative genes that compromised the uterine health during postpartum period.