Pyometra (PYO) is a reproductive disease characterized by the accumulation of purulent or mucopurulent material within the uterine lumen, in the presence of an active corpus luteum (CL). As the CL continues secreting progesterone, PYO would develop following endometritis. Due to prohibited use of artificial luteolytic hormones in US certified organic dairies, conventional therapies consisting of administration of prostaglandin F2α, are not applicable. The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of two acupuncture procedures on the treatment of persistent CL in cows with PYO. We hypothesized that acupuncture would reduce CL diameter and serum progesterone (P4) concentrations, leading to regression of PYO. Holstein cows with PYO, at an USDA certified organic dairy farm in Northern Colorado, were enrolled in a randomized controlled clinical trial and assigned to 1 of 3 treatments: (1) control pyometra (CP; no treatment; n = 17); (2) electroacupuncture (EAP; n = 15); and (3) laser acupuncture (LAP; n = 15). Each cow received three 9-min (EAP) or 20-min (LAP) acupuncture sessions in alternate days. All study cows had blood samples collected for determination of serum progesterone concentration at d0, and at d2, d4, d11, d18, and d25 after first treatment. The ovaries were scanned by transrectal ultrasonography at -3d, d0, d2, d4, d11, and d18 to determine the diameter of the CL. The effect of treatment in the outcome variables was evaluated by ANOVA and by repeated measures analyses, accounting for baseline data (CL diameter and progesterone serum concentration). Average ± SE change in CL diameter from d0 to d18 were 0.94 ± 1.0 mm, 0 ± 1.0 mm, and − 0.33 ± 1.0 mm for CP, EAP, and LAP, respectively. The repeated measures analysis indicated no significant differences for CL diameter among groups. None of the study cows had serum progesterone values <1 ng/ml by the end of the monitoring period (d25) and average ± SE change from d0 to d25 were − 4.0 ± 1.97 ng/ml, −0.76 ± 2.1 ng/ml, and 3.24 ± 1.9 ng/ml for CP, EAP, and LAP, respectively. The repeated measures analysis indicated no significant differences for serum progesterone concentrations among groups. On farm cow records reviewed 150 d after treatment indicated that 2 cows in EAP and 1 cow in LAP conceived 38 d, 68 d, and 38 d, after treatment completion. In conclusion, acupuncture was not an effective treatment for persistent CL in cows with PYO, during the monitoring period.

Pyometra（PYO）是一种生殖疾病，其特征是在存在活跃的黄体（CL）的情况下子宫腔内有脓性或粘液性物质积聚。随着CL继续分泌孕酮，子宫内膜炎会发展为PYO。由于在美国认证的有机牛奶厂中禁止使用人工溶解酶的激素，因此不适用常规方法，包括前列腺素F2α的给药。这项研究的目的是评估两种针刺方法对PYO奶牛持续性CL的治疗效果。我们假设针灸会减少CL直径和血清孕酮（P4）浓度，从而导致PYO消退。在北科罗拉多州获得美国农业部（USDA）认证的有机奶牛场，采用PYO的荷斯坦奶牛，n  = 17）；（2）电针（EAP; n = 15）; （3）激光针灸（LAP； n = 15）。每头母牛隔天接受3次9分钟（EAP）或20分钟（LAP）针灸。所有研究母牛在首次治疗后均在d0，d2，d4，d11，d18和d25采集血样以测定血清孕酮浓度。通过经直肠超声在-3d，d0，d2，d4，d11和d18扫描卵巢以确定CL的直径。通过ANOVA和重复测量分析评估治疗对结果变量的影响，并考虑基线数据（CL直径和孕酮血清浓度）。对于CP，EAP和LAP，CL直径从d0到d18的平均±SE变化分别为0.94±1.0 mm，0±1.0 mm和− 0.33±1.0 mm。重复测量分析表明，各组之间CL直径无显着差异。到监测期结束时（d25），没有研究母牛的血清孕酮值小于1 ng / ml，从d0到d25的平均±SE变化为-4.0±1.97 ng / ml，-0.76±2.1 ng / ml， CP，EAP和LAP分别为3.24±1.9 ng / ml。重复测量分析表明，各组之间血清孕酮浓度无显着差异。在处理后150 d的农场牛记录中，治疗完成后38 d，68 d和38 d观察到EAP中的2头母牛和LAP中的1头母牛。总之，在监测期内，针刺法不能有效治疗PYO奶牛持续性CL。EAP和LAP。重复测量分析表明，各组之间血清孕酮浓度无显着差异。在处理后150 d回顾的农场母牛记录表明，治疗完成后EAP中有2头母牛和LAP中有1头母牛受孕38 d，68 d和38 d。总之，在监测期内，针刺法不能有效治疗PYO奶牛持续性CL。EAP和LAP。重复测量分析表明，各组之间血清孕酮浓度无显着差异。在处理后150 d回顾的农场母牛记录表明，治疗完成后EAP中有2头母牛和LAP中有1头母牛受孕38 d，68 d和38 d。总之，在监测期内，针刺法不能有效治疗PYO奶牛持续性CL。