Download PDF
Tierarztl Prax Ausg G Grosstiere Nutztiere 2018; 46(03): 154-163
DOI: 10.15653/TPG-180369
Originalartikel – Original Articles
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Feasibility of transabdominal Doppler sonography for studying uterine blood flow characteristics in cycling gilts[*]

Eignung der transabdominalen Dopplersonographie zur Charakterisierung der Blutversorgung des Uterus der zyklischen Jungsau
Catherine Herlt   a
1   Clinic for Ruminants and Swine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
,
Rosa Stark   a
1   Clinic for Ruminants and Swine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
,
Haukur L. Sigmarsson
1   Clinic for Ruminants and Swine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
,
Johannes Kauffold
1   Clinic for Ruminants and Swine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
› Author AffiliationsThe German Federal Environmental Foundation (Osnabrück, Germany) as well as the Veyx Pharma GmbH (Schwarzenborn, Germany) supported this study financially.
Further Information

Publication History

Received: 19 March 2018

Accepted after revision: 19 April 2018

Publication Date:
14 June 2018 (online)

    Permissions and Reprints

Corrected by:

Correction: Feasibility of transabdominal Doppler sonography for studying uterine blood flow characteristics in cycling giltsTierarztl Prax Ausg G Grosstiere Nutztiere 2018; 46(03): E1-E1
DOI: 10.1055/a-0853-6138

Summary

Objective: To test for the feasibility of transabdominal Doppler sonography (color, power, pulse wave) to define uterine perfusion characteristics throughout the estrous cycle in gilts. Materials and methods: A total of 15 gilts were synchronized for estrus and scanned in their following spontaneous cycle while being restrained in a purpose-designed mobile crate. To define uterine perfusion characteristics, vessels in between and within uterine cross-sections were imaged and recorded as video sequences to be analyzed by PixelFlux® software for perfused area (Amix), blood flow velocity (vmix) and intensity (Imix) as well as resistance (RIvmix) and pulsatility index (PIvmix). Results: Color Doppler sonography proved to be the only feasible technique, as it was less affected by animal movements than power and pulse wave sonography. As determined by color Doppler sonography, all five parameters determined showed specific patterns through the estrous cycle, i. e. Amix, vmix, Imix were high in proestrus, decreased in estrus and remained low in midestrus and most parts of diestrus; RIvmix and PIvmix with inversely paralleled patterns. Conclusion and clinical relevance: This study has demonstrated that transabdominal color Doppler but not power and pulse wave Doppler sonography is feasible to be performed in crate-restrained gilts for studying uterine perfusion characteristics during the estrous cycle, and that changes of uterine perfusion over the course of the estrous cycle can be clearly followed by color Doppler sonography. Results encourage the use of color Doppler sonography for studying i. e. uterine capacity or uterus related infertility such as for cases of clinically unapparent endometritis.

Zusammenfassung

Ziel der Studie war zu testen, ob sich die transabdominale Dopplersonographie (Color-, Power-, Pulse-Wave-Doppler) eignet, um bei Jungsauen die Perfusion des Uterus während des Sexualzyklus zu charakterisieren. Material und Methode: Nach Östrussynchronisation wurden 15 Jungsauen im darauffolgenden spontanen Zyklus sonographisch untersucht. Bei den in einem Stand immobilisierten Tieren erfolgte eine Darstellung von Gefäßen innerhalb und zwischen den Uterusschlingen. In den aufgezeichneten Videos wurden mithilfe der Software PixelFlux® perfundierte Fläche (Amix), Blutflussgeschwindigkeit (vmix), Blutflussintensität (Imix) sowie Resistenz- (RIvmix) und Pulsatilitätsindex (PIvmix) ausgewertet. Ergebnisse: Das Color-Doppler-Verfahren war die einzig durchführbare Technik, da sie weniger als Power- und Pulse-Wave-Doppler durch Tierbewegungen beeinträchtigt wurde. Alle fünf im Color-Doppler-Verfahren untersuchten Blutflussparameter wiesen während des Sexualzyklus einen spezifischen Verlauf auf: Amix, vmix und Imix waren im Proöstrus hoch, sanken im Östrus und blieben im Metöstrus sowie weiten Teilen des Diöstrus niedrig. RIvmix und PIvmix verhielten sich entgegengesetzt proportional. Schlussfolgerung und klinische Relevanz: In dieser Studie ließ sich nachweisen, dass die transabdominale Color-Doppler-Sonographie im Gegensatz zu Power- und Pulse-Wave-Doppler geeignet ist, um bei im Stand immobilisierten Jungsauen die Perfusion des Uterus während des Sexualzyklus zu untersuchen. Ferner konnte demonstriert werden, dass Veränderungen der uterinen Perfusion im Verlauf des Sexualzyklus eindeutig mittels Color-Doppler-Sonographie nachzuverfolgen sind. Die Ergebnisse regen dazu an, dieses Verfahren auch für die Untersuchung der Uteruskapazität oder uterusbedingter Infertilität, wie in Fällen klinisch inapparenter Endometritis, zu nutzen.

Keywords

Gilt - estrous cycle - uterine perfusion - Doppler sonography

Schlüsselwörter

Jungsau - Sexualzyklus - Uterusperfusion - Dopplersonographie

* Dedicated to Professor Dr. Dr. h. c. mult. Hartwig Bostedt on the occasion of his 80th birthday.


a The authors contributed equally to the study.


 

  • References

  • 1 Alcázar JL, Castillo G, Mínguez JÁ, Galán MJ. Endometrial blood flow mapping using transvaginal power Doppler sonography in women with postmenopausal bleeding and thickened endometrium. Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol 2003; 21: 583-588.
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 2 Alvarez-Clau A, Liste F. Ultrasonographic characterization of the uterine artery in the nonestrus bitch. Ultrasound Med Biol 2005; 31 (12) 1583-1587.
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 3 Barbosa CC, Souza MB, Scalercio SRRA, Silva TFP, Domingues SFS, Silva LDM. Ovarian and uterine periovulatory Doppler ultrasonography in bitches. Pesqu Vet Bras 2013; 33 (09) 1144-1150.
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 4 Bhargava SK. ed. Textbook of Color Doppler Imaging. 2nd edn. New Delhi: Jaypee Brothers Medical Publishers; 2010
    Google Scholar
  • 5 Bollwein H, Meyer HHD, Maierl J, Weber F, Baumgartner U, Stolla R. Transrectal Doppler sonography of uterine blood flow in cows during the estrous cycle. Theriogenology 2000; 53 (08) 1541-1552.
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 6 Bollwein H, Weber F, Kolberg B, Stolla R. Uterine and ovarian blood flow during the estrus cycle in mares. Theriogenology 2002; 65: 2129-2138.
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 7 Brüssow K-P, Kurth J, Vernunft A, Becker F, Tuchscherer A, Kanitz W. Laparoscopy guided Doppler ultrasound measurement of fetal blood flow indices during early to mid-gestation in pigs. J Reprod Dev 2012; 58 (02) 243-247.
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 8 Brüssow K-P, Schneider F, Kanitz W, Rátky J, Kauffold J, Wähner M. Studies on fixed-time ovulation induction in the pig. Soc Reprod Fertil Suppl 2009; 66: 187-195.
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 9 Dickson WM, Bosc MJ, Du Mesnil Fdu Buisson, Locatelli A. The use of an indicator diffusion procedure to measure the uterine blood flow in sows during the estrous cycle and pregnancy. Biol Reprod 1969; 01: 295-301.
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 10 Dzięcioł M, Scholbach T, Stańczyk E, Ostrowska J, Kinda W, Woźniak M, Atamaniuk W, Skrzypczak P, Niżański W, Wieczorek A, Scholbach J, Kiełbowicz Z. Dynamic tissue perfusion measurement in the reproductive organs of the female and male dogs. B Vet I Pulawy 2014; 58 (01) 149-155.
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 11 Ferreira JC, Gastal EL, Ginther OJ. Uterine blood flow and perfusion in mares with uterine cysts: effect of the size of the cystic area and age. Reproduction 2008; 135: 541-550.
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 12 Ford SP. Control of uterine and ovarian blood flow throughout the estrous cycle and pregnancy of ewes, sows and cows. J Anim Sci 1982; 55: 32-42.
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 13 Ford SP, Christenson RK. Blood flow to uteri of sows during the estrous cycle and early pregnancy: local effect of the conceptus on the uterine blood supply. Biol Reprod 1979; 21: 617-624.
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 14 Goswamy RK, Steptoe PC. Doppler ultrasound studies of the uterine artery in spontaneous ovarian cycles. Hum Reprod 1988; 03 (06) 721-726.
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 15 Kaeoket K, Persson E, Dalin AM. The sow endometrium at different stages of the oestrous cycle: studies on morphological changes and infiltration by cells of the immune system. Anim Reprod Sci 2001; 65: 95-114.
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 16 Kauffold J, Althouse GC. An update on the use of B-mode ultrasonography in female pig reproduction. Theriogenology 2007; 67: 901-911.
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 17 Kauffold J, Hörügel K, Beynon N, Sobiraj A. Ultrasonographische Charakterisierung von Uteri und Ovarien fertiler Altsauen nach dem Absetzen und in der darauf folgenden Brunst. Tierärztl Prax 2006; 34 (G): 35-39.
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 18 Kauffold J, Rautenberg T, Richter A, Wähner M, Sobiraj A. Ultrasonographic characterization of the ovaries and the uterus in prepubertal and pubertal gilts. Theriogenology 2004; 61: 1635-1648.
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 19 Kneitz D. Spezielle ultrasonographische Untersuchungen zur uterinen, ovariellen und follikulären Durchblutung bei der Stute im periovulatorischen Zeitraum. Dissertation, Tierärztliche Hochschule Hannover. 2010
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 20 Knox RV, Althouse GC. Visualizing the reproductive tract of the female pig using real-time ultrasonography. Swine Health Prod 1999; 07 (05) 207-215.
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 21 Knox RV, Probst-Miller S. Evaluation of transrectal real-time ultrasound for use in identifying sources of reproductive failure in weaned sows. Swine Health Prod 2004; 12 (02) 71-74.
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 22 Magness RR, Christenson RK, Ford SP. Ovarian blood flow throughout the estrous cycle and early pregnancy in sows. Biol Reprod 1983; 28: 1090-1096.
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 23 Moriyoshi M, Sawamura T, Yasuda M, Nakao T, Kawata K. Using ultrasound for clinical observation of the porcine ovary through the course of the estrous cycle and to monitor treatment of ovarian disease. J Reprod Dev 1996; 42 (04) 277-282.
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 24 Murphy KJ, Rubin JM. Power Doppler: it’s a good thing. Semin Ultrasound CT MR 1997; 18 (01) 13-21.
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 25 Rathmacher RP. Relationship of blood flow and progestin levels on uterineovarian function in pigs and rabbits. Dissertation: Iowa State University of Science and Technology; 1967
    CrossrefGoogle Scholar
  • 26 Risse J. Ultrasonografische Untersuchungen zur uterinen und ovariellen Hämodynamik sowie zur uterinen Kontraktionsaktivität bei der Stute unter besonderer Berücksichtigung der Besamungsfrequenz. Dissertation: Tierärztliche Hochschule Hannover; 2011
    CrossrefGoogle Scholar
  • 27 Rosenbaum C, Wach S, Kunath F, Wullich B, Scholbach T, Engehausen DG. Dynamic tissue perfusion measurement: a new tool for characterizing renal perfusion in renal cell carcinoma patients. Urol Int 2013; 90: 87-94.
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 28 Schäberle W. Ultraschall in der Gefäßdiagnostik, 3. Aufl. Heidelberg: Springer; 2010
    Google Scholar
  • 29 Schnurrbusch U, Bergfeld J, Brüssow K-P, Kaltofen U. Diagram for ovarian assessment in swine. Mh Vet Med 1981; 36: 811-815.
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 30 Scholbach T, Girelli E, Scholbach J. Dynamic tissue perfusion measurement: a novel tool in follow-up of renal transplants. Transplantation 2005; 79: 1711-1716.
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 31 Scholbach T, Herrero I, Scholbach J. Dynamic color Doppler sonography of intestinal wall in patients with Crohn disease compared with healthy subjects. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr 2004; 39: 524-528.
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 32 Sohn C, Weskott HP, Schießer M. Sensitivität neuer Farbsysteme: “Maximum Entropy Method” und Angio-Farbe. Vergleichende in-vitro-Flußmessungen. Ultraschall Med 1996; 17: 138-142.
    Article in Thieme ConnectPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 33 Tan SL, Zaidi J, Campbell S, Doyle P, Collins W. Blood flow changes in the ovarian and uterine arteries during the normal menstrual cycle. Am J Obstet Gynecol 1996; 175: 625-631.
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 34 Wiliams SI, Piñeyro P, Luzbel Rde la Sota. Accuracy of pregnancy diagnosis in swine by ultrasonography. Can Vet J 2008; 49: 269-273.
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 35 Wünschmann F. Dopplersonographische Untersuchungen zu den Perfusionsverhältnissen am Uterus von Stuten während des Zyklus. Dissertation: Veterinärmedizinische Fakultät Leipzig; 2007
    CrossrefGoogle Scholar