Amelioration of Escherichia coli-induced endometritis with ascorbic acid in non-pregnant mouse models.

PROBLEM: Infection-induced endometritis is associated with infertility. The outcome with oral antibiotics remains poor. This study therefore investigates the role of ascorbic acid in resolving endometritis.

METHOD OF STUDY: Animals with established oestrus cycles were inoculated with Escherichia coli. Two days post-inoculation, the animals were administered ascorbic acid (10, 100 and 1000 mg/kg) and amoxicillin (500 mg/kg) for 5 days. Other groups included water only and E. coli inoculated with no treatment. Body temperatures, weights and vaginal cytology were examined. On the sixth day, after anaesthesia, blood samples were obtained for haematological analysis. Uterine organs were weighed, ex-vivo functionality analysed and histopathological analysis performed.

RESULTS

Ascorbic acid (AA) (100 and 1000 mg/kg) regularized the cycle of the endometritic animals comparable to amoxicillin. AA (1000 mg/kg) and amoxicillin, significantly decreased (P < .05) the endometritis-induced increase in uterine weights, restored the endometrial architecture and significantly (P < .05) normalized uterine contractions to control values. Improved haematological profiles were additionally observed on treatment with ascorbic acid (100 and 1000 mg/kg).

CONCLUSION

AA compared favourably with amoxicillin in endometritis management, suggesting that AA can be used in the management of infection-induced endometritis, normal cycling and normal uterine function.