Extremely High Alkaline Phosphatase Activity in the Vaginal Mucus of the Cow

Abstract

IN the course of an investigation on the phosphatase content of the vaginal smear of some non-pregnant cows and heifers, extremely high alkaline phosphatase activity was observed in the mucus at regular intervals corresponding with the ovarian cycle of the animal. The highest values were found on the day that mucus secretion, begins, two days before the visible signs of heat (bellowing, unrest, willingness to copulate). On that day a relatively small but highly active amount of mucus is secreted. A second period of relatively high activity of the mucus is often seen between the eighth and the twelfth day post œstrum. The activity is rather variable in different individuals and the daily variations may be great, especially in periods of irregular mucus secretion.