Inflammatory markers in ewes submitted to surgical or transcervical embryo collection

The techniques currently available for embryo collection in sheep include surgical (laparotomy; LP) and transcervical (TC) methods Although both methods are well established, there is no data about the levels of inflammatory markers in ewes after using such procedures. The objective of this study was to compare the systemic reaction to inflammation in ewes submitted to superovulation and embryo collection through LP or TC methods Blood samples were collected before each procedure (at D0) and at 3, 6 and 9 days after procedures to determine the levels of total protein, haptoglobin, fibrinogen and paraoxonase 1. The levels of inflammatory markers did not differ (P > 0.05) between methods Serum levels of haptoglobin and total protein and paraoxonase 1 activity increased after D0 (P < 0.05) for ewes submitted to both methods In conclusion, although TC is a less invasive embryo collection method compared to LP, both methods induced similar inflammatory response over time.