Abstract
Concentration of sodium and potassium in female genital tract fluid was determined for eighteen cows at different stages of estrous cycle. The fluid was absorbed into filter paper, and the difference in the weight of the paper before and after absorption was calculated as the sample weight. The sample absorbed in the paper was dissolved with diluted hydrochloride, and then subjected to analysis of the two elements by flame photometry. Average concentrations of sodium in uterine, cervical and vaginal samples were 88.76, 98.98 and 107.81 mEq/l, and for potassium they were 28.23, 17.17 and 14.10, respectively. The ratio, Na/K, varied widely, while total concentration of Na and K was nearly constant in the uterine, cervical and vaginal samples, with values being 117.88±23.94, 112.61±20.74 and 118.87±20.67mEq/l, respectively. The correlation coefficient of Na+K values between vaginal and uterine samples was 0.808, 0.822 for cervical and vaginal samples, and 0.851 for cervical and uterine samples. The close relationship in the values of Na+K among samples from three portions of genital tract suggests that it may be possible to estimate the value of Na+K in a portion of the tract from values of other portions using regression equation. Thus the value of Na+K in uterine fluid could be estimated as follows; uterine horn is washed with buffer free from both elements and the concentrations of them in the washing are determined, then dilution rate of the sample recovered in the washing is calculated using the values of Na+K in the cervical mucus and that in the uterine washing. Applying procedure above mentioned, the concentration of other components could be estimated by multiplying the concentration of them in the washing by the dilution rate.
