Reproductive Health

Reproductive Health

Reproductive Health

Our scientists study environmental and biochemical factors affecting pregnancy in mares.

The Equine Reproductive Health Research group at the Gluck Equine Research Center study reproductive immunology, infertility and pregnancy loss in horses.

Current projects include:

  • bacterial biofilm associated proteins as potential diagnostics for endometritis
  • biomarkers for high-risk pregnancies
  • the effect of seminal plasma on immune tolerance during pregnancy, and metabolism of the offspring
  • the importance of Vitamin D in equine reproduction
  • degradation of endometrial cups by immune-modulatory treatment
  • pathophysiology of endometrial fibrosis 

Mats Troedsson

Professor

(352) 283-5335 m.troedsson@uky.edu Gluck Equine Research Center 1400 Nicholasville Rd. Lexington, KY 40546

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Reproductive Health

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Barry Ball

Professor Emeritus

b.a.ball@uky.edu

Karen McDowell

Associate Professor Emeritus

kmcd@uky.edu

Graduate students, Post-doctoral scholars, visiting scientists, peer reviewed publications & invited presentations

Jaden Thompson, MSc 2024, Maxwell H. Gluck Equine Research Center, University of Kentucky.

Yatta Linhares Boakari, PhD 2019. Assistant Professor at Texas A&M University College of Veterinary Medicine.

Carleigh Fedorka, PhD 2017. Scientist at Maxwell H. Gluck Equine Research Center, University of Kentucky

Anthony Claes, PhD 2014. Associate Professor at University of Utrecht, School of Veterinary Medicine.

Igor Fredrico Canisso, PhD 2014. Associate Professor at University of Illinois, College of Veterinary Medicine.

Elizabeth Woodward, PhD 2012. Assistant Professor at University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine.

Claudia Klein, PhD 2011. Head of the Freidrich Loeffler Institute of Farm Animal Genetics, and Professor, University of Hannover, Germany,

Lynda Miller, PhD 2010. Associate Professor at CVCM Lincoln Memorial University

Blaire Fleming, MS 2018.  DVM student at Auburn University

Michelle Wynn, MS 2017. Scientist at University of Kentucky

Lauren Goedde, MS 2016. Law student at University of Denver

Gabriel Davolli, MS 2014. DVM, Dipl. American College of Theriogenologists.

Drew Hestad, MS 2013. DVM, Practicing Veterinarian.

Julianne Kalmar, MS 2013.

Sydney Hughes, MS 2012. DVM at Hagyard Equine Medical Institute

Katheryn Cerny, MS 2012. PhD in Animal Science, University of Kentucky and currently Associate Professor at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural University

Lauren Keith, MS 2012. DVM at Madison Veterinary Specialists, WI

Carleigh Fedorka, PhD (2017- 2022)

Hossam El-Sheikh Ali, DVM, MVSc, PhD. (2015-2022). Assistant Professor at Mansoura University, Egypt

Shavahn Loux, PhD. (2014-19). Scientist, Maxwell H. Gluck Equine Research Center

Elizabeth Woodward, PhD 2012. Assistant Professor at University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine.

Alejandro Esteller-Vico, DVM, PhD, (2011-2015). Assistant Professor, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tennessee.

Claudia Klein, PhD 2011. Head of the Freidrich Loeffler Institute of Farm Animal Genetics, and Professor, University of Hannover, Germany.

Natacha Mudenspach, DVM, (2022) University of Copenhagen, Denmark

  • M.H.T Troedsson, Co-advisor for degree at University of Copenhagen.

Pouya Dini, DVM, PhD (2020). Assistant Professor at University of California, Davis, School of Veterinary Medicine.

  • B.A. Ball, Co-advisor for degree at University of Ghent.

Harutaka Murase, DVM, PhD (2018-19). Veterinarian at Japan Racing Association.

Alan J. Conley, DVM, PhD.  (2017) Professor, Department of Population Health and Reproduction, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis.

Camila Vasconcelos Ribeiro, DVM, University of Piauí, Brazil

Yamê Fabres Robaina Sancler da Silva PhD, MSc, DVM. (2016) Assistant Professor at Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Brazil. 

Fernando Peña, DVM., PhD.  (2014-15). Professor, University of Extremadura Spain.

Elisa Sant’Anna Silva, DVM, PhD, FMVZ University of Botucatu, Brazil

Claudia Barbosa Fernandes, DVM, PhD, (2014-2015). Associate Professor at Universidade de São Paulo (USP), Brazil

Shingo Haneda DVM., Ph.D  (2014). Associate Professor, Obihiro University, Japan. 

Kazim Guvenic, DVM, PhD (2014). Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Istanbul University, Turkey.

Lisa Glenton, PhD (2014), University of Melbourne, Australia

Juan Maria Gallardo Bolaños, DVM, PhD, University of Extremadura, Spain

Abdo Alghamdi, DVM, PhD (2013) Associate Professor, University of Minnesota, Crookston

Justin McNaughton, DVM, DACT (2013) University of Florida

Mette Christoffersen, PhD (2011-12) Associate Professor, University of Copenhagen, School of Veterinary Medicine.

  • M.H.T Troedsson, Co-advisor for degree at University of Copenhagen.

Mohammad Ababneh, DVM, PhD, DACT (2010-11) Professor, University of Jordan (Fulbright Fellow), 2010-11

Jane Morrell, PhD (2011) Associate Professor, Swedish University of Agriculture, Uppsala, Sweden,

Morten Rønn Petersen, DVM, PhD, (2010) Associate Professor, University of Copenhagen

Jasmine Walter, DVM. PhD (2010) University of Zurich, Switzerland

R.R. Araujo, DVM, PhD (2010) University of Sao Paulo, Brazil

David Alexander, Mariah Pearson, Staci Sherman, David Alexander, Morgan Clark, Katharine Jackson, Staci Palmer, Maria Pearson, Patrick Proctor, Olivia Walker, Elizabeth Humphrey, Lauren Troutt, Kelly Weigle, Madison Dedman, Ana Weiland, Mary Grace May, Anecia Whitehead, Payton Pletcher, Bailey Hamilton, Samantha Norton.

van Heule M, El-Sheikh Ali H, Fernando Monteiro H, Bazzazan A, Scoggin K, Fedorka C, Weimer BC, Ball B, Daels P, Dini P. Characterization of the equine placental microbial population during nocardioform placentitis. Theriogenology, Submitted January 2024.

Menarim BC, Mok CH, Scoggin K, Gornik A, Adam EN, MacLeod JN. Fetal cartilage progenitor cells in the repair of osteochondral defects. Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery. Submitted February 2024.

Bailey, C.S., Leite, T., Troedsson, M.H.T. Observations from the trenches on focal mucoid (nocardioform) placentitis. Clin. Theriogenology (under review).

Muderspach, N.D., Troedsson, M.H.T., Ferreira-Dias, G., Agerholm, J.S., Christoffersen, M. (2024) Distribution of degenerative changes in the equine endometrium as observed in a single versus two biopsies. Theriogenology. 213:52-58 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.theriogenology.2023.09.0018.

Doty, A.L., Miller, L.M.J., Fedorka, C.F., Troedsson, M.H.T. (2024) The role of equine CRISP-3 in the interaction between ploymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs) and populations of viable or dead spermatozoa, and bacteria. Theriogenology. 219(15):22-31 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.theriogenology.2024.02.014.

Fedorka, C.E., Schnobrich, M.R., Muderspach, N.D., Scoggin, K.E., Dedman, M.T., Weigle, K.E., May, M.G., Twist, H., Linse, C.R., Douglas, R.H., Troedsson, M.H.T. (2024) Utilizing an immunostimulant (Settle®) to hasten the degradation of endometrial cups. Eq. Vet. J. http://doi.org/10.1111/evj.14079

Orellana-Guerrero D, Uribe-Salazar JM, El-Sheikh Ali H, Scoggin KE, Ball B, Daels P, Finno CJ, Dini P. Dynamics of the equine placental DNA methylome and transcriptome from mid- to late gestation. International Journal of Molecular Science. Published April 2023. doi: 10.3390/ijms24087084

van Heule M, Fernando Monteiro H, Bazzazan A, Scoggin K, Rolston M, El-Sheikh Ali H, Weimer BC, Ball B, Daels P, Dini P. Characterization of the equine placental microbial population in healthy pregnancies. Theriogenology. Published August 2023. doi: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2023.04.022

            de la Fuente, A., Scoggin, C., Bradecamp, E., Martin-Pelaez, S., van Heule, M., Troedsson, M.H.T., Daels, P., Meyers, S., Dini, P. (2023) Dynamics of in vitro equine oocyte maturation in horses: a transcriptomic approach. Int. J. Mol. Sci. https//doi.org/10.3390/ijms241813718.

Miller, L.M.J., Woodward, E.M. Campos, J.R., Williams, N., Squires, E.L., Troedsson, M.H.T. (2023) Expression of Sperm Protein at 22kDa (SP22) on spermatozoa and in the stallion’s reproductive tract prior to and following heat-induced testicular regulation. Andrology https://doi.org/10.1111/andr.13464 

Fedorka, C.E., Troedsson, M.H.T. (2023) The Immune Response to Ascending Placentitis: A Narrative Review. Theriogenology, 203:11-20. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.theriogenology.2023.03.002

Fedorka, C.E., El-Sheikh Ali, H., Ball, B.A., Troedsson, M.H.T. (2023) Galectinology of equine pregnancy. Animals 13(1), 129; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13010129

Fedorka, C.E., El-Sheikh Ali, H., Ball, B.A., Troedsson, M.H.T. (2023) Galectinology of equine placental disease. Vet. Sci. 10(3), 218; https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci10030218

Alghamdi, A.S., Fedorka, C.E., Scoggin, K.E., Vico, A.E., Beatty, K., Davolli, G., Ball, B.A., Troedsson, M.H.T. (2023) Binding of equine seminal lactoferrin/ superoxide dismutase (SOD-3) complex is biased towards dead spermatozoa. Animals 13(1), 52;
https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13010052.

Williams, N.J., Slovis, N.M., Browne, N.S., Troedsson, M.H.T., Giguėre, S., Hernandez, J.A. (2022) Enterococcus durans infection and diarrhea in Thoroughbred foals. J. Vet. Int. Med. 36(6):2224-2229; doi.org/10.1111/jvim.16568 

Fedorka, C.E., El-Sheikh Ali, H., Scoggin, K.E., Loux, S.C., Ball, B.A., Troedsson, M.H.T. (2022) TNF signaling during equine placental infection leads to pro-apoptotic and necroptotic outcomes. Am. J. Repr. Immun. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jri.2022.103655.

Fedorka, C.F., Troedsson, M.H.T. (2021) The use of immunomodulators in equine reproduction. Clin. Theriogenology 13:238-246.

de la Fuente, A., Scoggin, C., Bradecamp, E., Ali, H., Troedsson, M.H.T., Meyers, S., Dini, P. (2021) Transcriptome characterization of equine oocyte maturation. Reprod. Fert. Develop. doi.org/10.1071/RDv34n2Ab146

Shingo, H., Dini, P., Esteller-Vico, A., Scoggin, K.E., Squires, E.L., Troedsson, M.H.T., Daels, P., Nambo, Y., Ball, B.A. (2021) Estrogen-regulated angiogenesis in the equine placenta. Int. J. Mol. Sc. doi.org/103390/ijms222212116

Fedorka, C.E., Ball, B.A., Wynn, M.A.A., McCormack, M.E., Scoggin, K.E., Esteller-Vico, A., Curry, T., Kennedy, L., Squires, E.L., Troedsson, M.H.T. (2021) Alterations of Circulating Markers During Late Term Pregnancy Complications in the Horse. Part II: Steroid Hormones and AFP. J. Eq. Vet. Sci. doi:10.1016/j.jevs.2021.103395

Fedorka, C.E., Ball, B.A., Walker, O.F., McCormack, M.E., Scoggin, K.E., Kennedy, L., Squires, E.L., Troedsson, M.H.T. (2021) Alterations of Circulating Markers During Late Term Pregnancy Complications in the Horse. Part I: Cytokines. J. Eq. Vet. Sci. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jevs.2021.103425

Fedorka, C.E., El-Sheikh Ali, H., Walker, O.F., Scoggin, K.E., Dini, P., Loux, S.C., Troedsson, M.H.T., Ball, B.A. (2021) The imbalance of the Th17/Treg axis involved in equine ascending placental infection. J. Reprod. Immunology. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jri.2020.103268

 

 

 

 

Troedsson, M.H.T., Hutchinson R., Scoggin, K.E. (2024) Preliminary observation on the endometrial response to repeated infection with common uterine pathogens. 10th International Workshop on Equine Reproductive Medicine. Leipzig, Germany.

Troedsson, M.H.T., Fedorka, C.F., Scoggin, K.E. (2024) Pathophysiology of equine endometritis. 12th International Conference on Equine Reproductive Medicine, Leipzig, Germany.

Fedorka, C.E., Troedsson, M.H.T. Immune-mediated biomarkers for ascending placentitis. (2024) 12th International Conference on Equine Reproductive Medicine, Leipzig, Germany.

Whitehead A., Troedsson, M.H.T., Loux, S., Hamilton, B., Pletcher, P. Faulkner, V. (2024) Comparison of equine semen quality after cooled storage in the absence vs presence of antibiotics and Vitamin D. Lincoln Memorial University College of Veterinary Medicine Research Day.​

May, M., Muderspach, N., Christofferson, M., Troedsson, M.H.T., Miller, L.M.J (2024) Novel biomarkers for early diagnosis and prognosis of endometrial fibrosis in the mare. Lincoln Memorial University College of Veterinary Medicine Research Day.​

Troedsson, M.H.T., El-Sheikh-Ali, H., Scoggin, K.E., Humphrey, E.A., Troutt, L., Fedorka, C.E. (2023) The impact of seminal plasma on the equine endometrial transcriptome
ISER XIII, Foz do Iguaçu, Brazil. 

Fedorka, C.E. Schnobrich, M. Muderspach, N., Dedman, M., Weigle, K., May, M., Twist, H., Douglas, B., Troedsson, M.H.T. (2023) Utilizing an immunostimulant (Settle®) to hasten the degradation of endometrial cups. ISER XIII, Foz do Iguaçu, Brazil.

Muderspach, N, Agerholm, J, Troedsson, M.H.T., Ferreira-Dias, G., Christoffersen, M. (2023) Are degenerative changes in a single endometrial biopsy representative for the endometrial state? ISER XIII, Foz do Iguaçu, Brazil.

Scoggin, K.E., Borlee, B.R., Fedorka, C.E., Troedsson, M.H.T. (2023) Identification of endometrial biofilm specific proteins for in vivo diagnostics. ISER XIII, Foz do Iguaçu, Brazil.

Loux, S.C., Scoggin, K.E., Loynachan, A., Menarim, B., May, M.G., Muderspach, N., Fedorka, C.E., Troedsson, M.H.T., Kalbfleisch, T.S. (2023) Intrauterine Vitamine D3 improves inflammatory resolution in mares susceptible to persisitent breeding-induced endometritis. ISER XIII, Foz do Iguaçu, Brazil.

Loux SC (2023) Vitamin D3 as a Novel Therapy for Persistent Breeding-Induced Endometritis:  A Tale of How Bioinformatics can Improve Clinical Science.  Louisiana State University.  

Loux SC, Scoggin KE, Loynachan A, Menarim B, May MG, Muderspach N, Troedsson MHT,  Kalbfleisch TS.  (2023) Intrauterine Vitamin D3 Improves Inflammation Resolution in Mares Susceptible to Persistent Breeding-Induced Endometritis.  Equine Science Society.  Dallas, TX.

Muderspach, N.D., Agerholm, J.S., Troedsson, M.H.T., Ferreira-Dias, G., Schoof, E.M., Fedorka, C.F., Miller, L.M.J., Wood, P.L., Christoffersen, M. (2023) Proteomic profiling and identification of biomarkers for equine endometrial fibrosis. Poster presentation (NDM) at UBUNTU Proteomic Summer School, French Proteomic Society, Cape Town, South Africa.

Fedorka, C., F., Schnobrich, M.R., Troedsson, M.H.T. (2023) How To Bring A Mare Into Estrus following Pregnancy Loss. 69th Annual Conv. AAEP. San Diego.

Troedsson, M.H.T. (2022) How to evaluate sperm-uterine interaction. International Symposium on Equine Reproduction (ISER) Webinar.

Troedsson, M.H.T. Clinical advances in equine placentitis. University of Zurich, Switzerland, July 2022.

Loux SC, Scoggin KE, Ball BA, Kalbfleisch TS.  (2022) Placental Infection in Mares Results in Shifting Balance of Free Fatty Acids from Circulation to Amniotic Fluid.  Bioactive Lipids in Cancer, Inflammation and Related Diseases. New Orleans, LA.

Troedsson, M.H.T. Diagnostics and Therapy of Equine Placentitis. (2022) Freidrich Loeffler Institute for Animal Breeding and Genetics, Mariensee, Germany. July 2022.

Schnobrich, M., Douglas, R., Troedsson, M.H.T., Fedorka, C.F. (2022) Decreased equine chorionic gonadotropin secretion following hysteroscopic-guided injection of an immunomodulatory. AAEP Annual Conference, San Antonio, TX.

Troedsson, M.H.T. and Schnobrich, M. (2022) How to manage persistent breeding-induced endometritis in the mare. International Symposium on Equine Reproduction (ISER) Webinar.

Troedsson, M.H.T. and Schnobrich, M. (2022) How to diagnose and manage placentitis in the mare. International Symposium on Equine Reproduction (ISER) Webinar.

Troedsson, M.H.T. (2022) Diagnostic and therapeutic value of progesterone/progestins during late gestation. ReproTraining Virtual Presentation and Panel discussion on ”Progesterone – myths and medicine”.

Loux, S.C., Mitchell, J.M., Scoggin, K.E., El-Sheikh Ali, H.E., Ball, B.A., Kalbfleisch, T.  (2022) Vitamin D in horses – a tale of the strengths and limitations of transcriptomics.  Plant and Animal Genome XXIX

Troedsson, M.H.T. (2021) Optimizing diagnosis and treatment of equine placentitis. PDVet Virtual presentation and panel discussion. February 2022.

Troedsson, M.H.T. (2021) Responsible use of antibiotics in equine practice: Strategies in human and veterinary medicine. Organizer and moderator of panel discussion. 67th Annual Conv. Am. Assoc. Eq. Pract., Nashville, TN.

Fedorka, C.E. (2021) Immunomodulators in the mare: Treatment options in an era of ever-increasing antimicrobial resistance. NovaVive Biopharmaceuticals.  Virtual presentation December 2021.

Fedorka, C.E. (2021) From pathways to pathogenesis:  Utilizing reproductive immunology to increase pregnancy success. Colorado State University, Edward Squires Distinguished Equine Lecturer. 

Fedorka, C.E. (2021) The use of immunomodulators in the mare, Society for Theriogenology, Omaha, NE.

Fedorka, C.E. (2021) The use of progestins in the mare, Society for Theriogenology, Omaha, NE.

 

Contact Information

Dr. Surendranath Suman
Interim Director, Gluck Equine Research Center

405 W.P. Garrigus Building Lexington, KY 40546-0215

(859) 257-3248

spsuma2@uky.edu