Dynamics of activities of XXXX , and the tissue inhibitors of MMPs in fetal fluid compartments during gestation and at parturition in the mare.

@entity1552 @entity3152 @entity1476 @entity11700 @entity1495
During late gestation in the mare, rapid fetal growth is accompanied by considerable placental growth and further invasion of the endometrium by microvilli. This growth requires extensive remodeling of the extracellular matrix (ECM). In early pregnancy, we know that @entity11700 are involved in the endometrial invasion during endometrial cup formation. The present study investigated whether MMPs are found in fetal fluids later in gestation and during parturition, and if there was a difference in their activities between normal and @entity3152 . Amniotic fluids were collected from pony mares during the latter half of gestation, and amniotic and allantoic fluids from pony and thoroughbred mares at foaling. The fluids were analysed for the activity of @entity11700 , and TIMPs using zymography techniques. There was an increase (P = 0.002) in activity of latent @entity1495 when approaching normal foaling, and a decrease (P < 0.001) during foaling. @entity1476 activity did not change through gestation, or during foaling. When comparing samples from pregnancies resulting in preterm deliveries with samples from foaling mares, the activity of @entity1495 was lower (P < 0.001) and @entity1476 activity was higher (P = 0.004) during foaling than preceding @entity3152 . The activity of @entity1495 was lower (P = 0.002) prior to @entity3152 than before delivery of a live foal at term, whereas no difference (P = 0.07) was demonstrated for latent @entity1476 activity when comparing the same groups. The activity of @entity1552 was higher (P < 0.001) in the pre-parturient period before normal foaling than preceding @entity3152 . These results suggest that MMPs may have a role as markers for high risk pregnancy in the mare.
