Predicting a fertile cycle: studies examining vascular perfusion of the preovulatory follicle via Doppler ultrasonography

Colour- and power-Doppler ultrasonography have recently been used as potential new technologies to assess the degree of vascular perfusion of the ovary and follicles for research and clinical studies of ovarian and follicle hemodynamics and to predict fertility in horses, cattle and humans. In the present study, the following hypotheses were tested: (1) preovulatory follicle (POF) diameter (≥30 mm), but not blood flow, is repeatable between cycles within the same mare; (2) POF diameter and blood flow are good indicators of follicle status; (3) double POF have similar blood flow; and (4) highly vascularized POF produce corpora lutea (CL) with greater blood flow. Non-lactating mares (n = 13; 5 to 21 years old) of mixed breeds were used from March to May in the Northern Hemisphere. Follicle diameter and vascularity of the follicle wall before the first and second ovulations of the season and vascularity of the first CL were measured daily using transrectal colour-Doppler ultrasonography. The vascularity of the follicle wall and CL was based on the display of the blood-flow signals visualised in a slow, continuous-motion evaluation. Statistical analyses were performed by the SAS MIXED procedure, ANOVA and Student's t-tests and Spearman's correlation. A total of 26 periovulatory periods were evaluated. Unexpectedly, there were 84.6% (11/13) and 61.5% (8/13) double dominant POF and 30.8% (4/13) and 46.2% (6/13) double ovulations in the first and second periovulatory periods, respectively. The POF diameters were highly correlated (r = 0.68; P < 0.0001) between the first and second periovulatory periods. The diameter of the POF 5 days before the first ovulation was larger (P < 0.004) than before the second ovulation of the year. However, the POF vascularity did not differ between those periods. For 4 days before ovulation (Day 0), the diameter and blood flow of the POF were greater (P < 0.05) than for those follicles that underwent atresia in single- and double-ovulatory mares. The POF diameter and blood flow were positively correlated in ovulatory (r = 0.51; P < 0.0001) and in atretic (r = 0.32; P < 0.02) follicles. In double-ovulatory mares, POF diameter and blood flow increased (P < 0.0006) for 5 days before ovulation, with no difference between the 2 follicles in the same cycle for each parameter. The POF blood flow was positively correlated (r = 0.32; P < 0.0009) with CL vascularity during the first periovulatory period (Day –7 to +6) of the season. Furthermore, a positive correlation (r = 0.58; P < 0.01) was observed between the maximum vascularity of the POF and its subsequent CL. In conclusion, although preliminary, our results demonstrated that (a) POF vascularity is not repeatable within individuals; (b) potential atretic POF have low blood flow; (c) double POF have similar vascularity; and (d) greater blood flow to the POF is associated with higher CL vascularity.

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Field trial of Doppler ultrasonography of the preovulatory follicle in the mare

Animal Reproduction Science ◽

10.1016/j.anireprosci.2006.04.018 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 94 (1-4) ◽

pp. 182-185 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Keyword(s):

Field Trial ◽

Doppler Ultrasonography ◽

Preovulatory Follicle

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ENDOMETRIAL VASCULAR PERFUSION DURING EARLY PREGNANCY IN HEIFERS ASSESSED BY COLOR-DOPPLER ULTRASONOGRAPHY

Biology of Reproduction ◽

10.1093/biolreprod/77.s1.231b ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 77 (Suppl_1) ◽

pp. 231-231

Author(s):

Luciano Silva ◽

Dan Sharp ◽

O.J. Ginther.

Keyword(s):

Early Pregnancy ◽

Doppler Ultrasonography ◽

Color Doppler ◽

Color Doppler Ultrasonography ◽

Vascular Perfusion

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182 EFFECT OF OVULATION-INDUCING FACTOR ON DEVELOPMENT AND VASCULAR PERFUSION OF THE OVULATORY FOLLICLE AND CORPUS LUTEUM IN LLAMAS

Reproduction Fertility and Development ◽

10.1071/rdv25n1ab182 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 25 (1) ◽

pp. 240

Author(s):

C. Ulloa-Leal ◽

O. Bogle ◽

G. P. Adams ◽

M. Ratto

Keyword(s):

Blood Flow ◽

Seminal Plasma ◽

Research Council ◽

Power Doppler ◽

Transrectal Ultrasonography ◽

Maximum Diameter ◽

Preovulatory Follicle ◽

Vascular Perfusion ◽

Flow Signal ◽

Blood Flow Signal

The aim of the study was to determine if purified ovulation-inducing factor (OIF) from llama seminal plasma evokes changes in tissue vascular area of the preovulatory follicle and CL. Mature non-lactating, non-pregnant, female llamas (n = 20) were monitored by transrectal ultrasonography using a 7.5-MHz linear-array transducer (MyLab 5, Canadian Veterinary Imaging) to determine ovarian follicular status. Llamas with a growing follicle (for 3 consecutive days) ≥8 mm were assigned randomly to 2 groups (n = 10/group) and given an i.m. dose of (1) 50 µg of gonadorelin acetate or (2) 1 mg of purified OIF from llama seminal plasma. Llamas were examined daily by transrectal ultrasonography using B-mode and power Doppler mode from Day 0 (day of treatment) to Day 16 to detect ovulation and CL development, and to calculate the area of blood-flow signal in the preovulatory follicle at 12 h after treatment and in the CL on Days 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, and 16. Power Doppler images were recorded, edited, and analysed using the ImageJ software (National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA). Data were compared between groups by Student t-test, chi-square, and ANOVA for repeated measures. No differences were detected between GnRH and OIF groups, respectively, in the diameter of the preovulatory follicle at the time of treatment (9.7 ± 0.3 v. 9.9 ± 0.4 mm), ovulation rate (10/10 v. 10/10), interval from treatment to ovulation (32.0 ± 0.6 v. 30.4 ± 1.8 h), maximum CL diameter (13.05 ± 0.4 v. 13.5 ± 0.3 mm), or the day on which the CL reached the maximum diameter (8.7 ± 0.3 v. 8.2 ± 0.2). The preovulatory follicle from llamas treated with purified OIF had a greater (P ≤ 0.0001) blood-flow signal area after treatment than that of the GnRH group. Similarly, the luteal tissue of llamas treated with purified OIF had a greater (P ≤ 0.001) blood-flow signal area than that of the GnRH group on Days 4, 6, 12, and 16 after treatment. We conclude that OIF purified from llama seminal plasma increases the vascular perfusion of the preovulatory follicle and the subsequent CL, consistent with the hypothesis that OIF is luteotrophic. Research funded by Chilean National Science and Technology Research Council (Fondecyt Regular 1120518), the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, and the Alpaca Research Foundation.

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Vascular perfusion and the volume of the preovulatory follicle are affected by the temperament of Nellore cows.

Livestock Science ◽

10.1016/j.livsci.2021.104744 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 104744

Author(s):

Yuri B. Guerson ◽

Samuel R.B. Couto ◽

Rita de Cássia L. Morais ◽

Gustavo F. Grillo ◽

Júlio C.F. Jacob ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Preovulatory Follicle ◽

Vascular Perfusion

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Local effect of the conceptus on uterine vascular perfusion during early pregnancy in heifers

Reproduction ◽

10.1530/rep-09-0363 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 139 (2) ◽

pp. 453-463 ◽

Cited By ~ 27

Author(s):

L A Silva ◽

O J Ginther

Keyword(s):

Early Pregnancy ◽

Doppler Ultrasonography ◽

Spatial Relationship ◽

Local Effect ◽

Uterine Horn ◽

Transient Increase ◽

Colour Doppler ◽

Vascular Perfusion ◽

Plasma Progesterone ◽

Endometrial Vascularity

Colour-Doppler ultrasonography was used to study the spatial relationship between vascular perfusion in the middle of each uterine horn and the reported location of the embryo proper and expanding conceptus using endometrial vascularity scores 1–4 (nil–maximal). Vascularity increased in both uterine horns between days 14 and 18 (day 0=ovulation) in nonpregnant heifers (n=6) but not in pregnant heifers (n=11). The increase was temporally associated with decreasing plasma progesterone and increasing oestradiol. In pregnant heifers, a transient increase in endometrial vascularity in the ipsilateral horn (horn with embryo) was not detected before day 18, despite a reported transient increase in blood flow in the ipsilateral uterine artery between days 13 and 17. Endometrial vascularity in the ipsilateral horn first increased (P<0.05) between days 18 and 20. Day 20 is the reported day of adhesiveness between chorion and uterus. An increase (P<0.05) in the contralateral horn between days 18 and 22 was slight, but a greater increase occurred after day 32. Day 32 is the reported day of entry of the allantochorion into the contralateral horn. By day 42, scores were similar between the two horns, and the allantochorion reportedly fills both horns. On days 42–60, at a time when placentomes apparently are limited to the ipsilateral horn, vascularity remained elevated in the ipsilateral horn but decreased in the contralateral horn. Results support the hypothesis that vascular perfusion in each uterine horn during early pregnancy is mediated by direct contact between conceptus and uterus.

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Effects of hCG on characteristics of the wall of the developing preovulatory follicle evaluated by B-mode and color-Doppler ultrasonography and interrelationships with systemic estradiol concentrations in mares

Animal Reproduction Science ◽

10.1016/j.anireprosci.2006.04.033 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 94 (1-4) ◽

pp. 195-198 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Keyword(s):

Doppler Ultrasonography ◽

Color Doppler ◽

Color Doppler Ultrasonography ◽

Preovulatory Follicle

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Follicle vascularity coordinates corpus luteum blood flow and progesterone production

Reproduction Fertility and Development ◽

10.1071/rd15223 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 29 (3) ◽

pp. 448 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

S. G. S. de Tarso ◽

G. D. A. Gastal ◽

S. T. Bashir ◽

M. O. Gastal ◽

G. A. Apgar ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Blood Flow ◽

Corpus Luteum ◽

Doppler Ultrasonography ◽

Beef Cows ◽

Regression Analyses ◽

Preovulatory Follicle ◽

Colour Doppler ◽

Plasma Progesterone ◽

Colour Doppler Ultrasonography ◽

Progesterone Production

Colour Doppler ultrasonography was used to compare the ability of preovulatory follicle (POF) blood flow and its dimensions to predict the size, blood flow and progesterone production capability of the subsequent corpus luteum (CL). Cows (n = 30) were submitted to a synchronisation protocol. Follicles ≥7 mm were measured and follicular wall blood flow evaluated every 12 h for approximately 3.5 days until ovulation. After ovulation, cows were scanned daily for 8 days and similar parameters were evaluated for the CL. Blood samples were collected and plasma progesterone concentrations quantified. All parameters were positively correlated. Correlation values ranged from 0.26 to 0.74 on data normalised to ovulation and from 0.31 to 0.74 on data normalised to maximum values. Correlations between calculated ratios of both POF and CL in data normalised to ovulation and to maximum values ranged from moderate (0.57) to strong (0.87). Significant (P < 0.0001) linear regression analyses were seen in all comparisons. In conclusion, higher correlations were observed between the dimensions of POF and/or CL and blood flow of both structures, as well as POF and/or CL blood flow with plasma progesterone concentrations of the resultant CL. These findings indicate that follicle vascularity coordinates CL blood flow and progesterone production in synchronised beef cows.

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Vascular Perfusion of the Preovulatory Follicle and its Relationship in Pregnancy Establishment during Natural and Induced Estrus in Buffaloes

Indian Journal of Animal Research ◽

10.18805/ijar.b-4277 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

M. Selvaraju ◽

S. Prakash ◽

M. Palanisamy ◽

P. Visha ◽

R. Chitra

Keyword(s):

Blood Flow ◽

Conception Rate ◽

Spectral Indices ◽

Serum Estradiol ◽

Preovulatory Follicle ◽

Vascular Perfusion ◽

Group I ◽

The Mean ◽

Group Ii ◽

Increased Blood Flow

Background: In buffaloes, little attention has been devoted on the haemodynamics of preovulatory follicle (POF) and serum estradiol profiles and their relationship with conception rate following AI at natural and induced estrus. Methods: Sixty healthy pleuriparous graded Murrah buffaloes were selected and divided into two groups, viz., Group I and II. Group I buffaloes were artificially inseminated twice at an interval of 24 hours during natural estrus. Estrus induction was done using PIVD and PGF2α in group II buffaloes and AI was performed 48 h and 72 h after the withdrawal of PIVD. The blood flow of the preovulatory follicle (POF) and early pregnancy were assessed in both the groups by Doppler ultrasonography.Result: On statistical analysis, the mean (± SE) of spectral indices revealed there was an increased blood flow to the POF during induced estrus (Group II) when compared to natural estrus (Group I). The conception rate observed was 66.67 and 58.33 per cent in group I and II, respectively. It is concluded that increased vascular perfusion to POF resulted in almost similar conception rates in induced and natural estrus following AI in buffaloes.

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