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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)

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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.


 

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