Abstract
The aim of this study is to determine the relationship between the amount of vascularization in the preovulatory follicle wall and pregnancy establisment with colour Doppler ultrasonography. Colour Doppler ultrasonography images from 26 Arabian mares in breeding season were evaluated in the study. Mares no abnormalities in the reproductive system and mild-manner mares were handled. Preovulatory follicle (>35mm) was monitored twice in a day by transrectal B-mode ultrasonography and colour Doppler ultrasonography until the ovulation day. Follicular vascularization images which were incorporated into the study, were monitored 18 hours before the ovulatio Also amount of pixels in colour Doppler images were evaluated with computer-based image analysis program. The mares were mated naturally with a stallion. Pregnancy diagnosis was performed by ultrasonography on day 14 to day 30 after mating. As a result of ultrasonography examination, mares were divided into two groups as pregnant (n=13) and non-pregnant (n=13). The statistical difference between the amount of vascularization in the preovulatory follicle wall of pregnant mares and the amount of vascularization in the preovulatory follicle wall of non-pregnant mares was compared by t-test. As a result of the study, there were no significant differences between pregnant and non-pregnant mares in terms of area, volume and intensity units of coloured pixels in the preovulatory follicle wall (P> 0.05). In conclusion, it was observed that the quantitative evaluation of the colour Doppler images of the preovulatory follicle wall in mares in the breeding season cannot be used in the diagnosis of pregnancy.
Highlights
Mares are seasonally polyestrous breeder which they usually reach puberty at two years old
As the researchers [10] reported, development of preovulatory follicle was evaluated by transrectal B-mod ultrasonography
Diameter of preovulatory follicle ranges between 40mm and 50mm in mares
Summary
Mares are seasonally polyestrous breeder which they usually reach puberty at two years old. Colour-Doppler ultrasonographic imaging and Doppler ultrasonography provide distinctively different approaches for assessing the vascular system of reproductive organs. There are studies for predicting the fertility in horses and cattles by examining vascular perfusion of the preovulatory follicle via Doppler ultrasonography [11, 12]. Siddiqui et al [12] investigated the relationship of vascular perfusion of the wall of the preovulatory follicle to in vitro fertilization and embryo development in heifers. Altermatt et al [3] compared ovarian and follicular vascularity related to age of the mares. They supported older mares have greater follicular vascularity than younger mares, follicle growth was not found associated with vascularity. Ginther et al [6] investigated the relationships of follicle versus oocyte maturity to ultrasound morphology, blood flow, and hormone concentrations of the preovulatory follicle in mares
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