Ovarian Arterial Blood Flow Research Articles

Impact of moderate exercise on ovarian blood flow and early embryonic outcomes in mares1

The advent of embryo transfer has allowed horses to continue to train and compete during the breeding season. However, the associated stress of exercise may be detrimental to reproduction. The objectives of this study were to evaluate differing exercise protocols on reproductive blood flow and embryonic outcomes in mares. Light-horse mares were randomized into control (n = 4), partial-exercised (n = 6), and full-exercised (n = 6) groups. Partial-exercised mares were moderately exercised 30 min daily during the periovulatory period and rested after ovulation for 7 d. Full-exercised mares were exercised for 30 min daily throughout the reproductive cycle. Mares were artificially inseminated during estrus and subjected to uterine flush for embryo recovery on d 7 post ovulation. Blood flow through both ovarian arteries and vascular perfusion of the wall of the preovulatory follicle were examined by color Doppler ultrasonography. Results indicated exercise induced greater serum cortisol concentrations (P < 0.05). Embryo recovery rates were reduced in exercised (20/46, 43%) compared with control (14/21, 67%) mares (P < 0.10). When examined separately, embryo recovery rates for partial-exercised (11/25, 44%) and full-exercised (9/21, 43%) mares were not significantly different. Additionally, fewer quality Grade 1 embryos were recovered from partial-exercised mares compared with both control and full-exercised mares (P < 0.05). Blood flow through both ovarian arteries was greater in both exercised groups in the days leading up to ovulation (P < 0.05). However, vascular perfusion of the wall of the preovulatory follicle on the day before ovulation was less in both partial-exercised (45.9 ± 3.0%) and full-exercised (44.8 ± 3.4%) mares vs. control (54.9 ± 3.6%; P < 0.05). In exercised mares, vascular perfusion of the follicle wall was greater when an embryo was recovered (P < 0.01). No differences were found in follicle ovulatory diameter among exercised and non-exercised mares. When groups were combined, follicle diameter was greater when an embryo was recovered (44.9 ± 1.0 mm) compared with an unsuccessful embryo recovery attempt (42.8 ± 0.7 mm; P < 0.05). In conclusion, these data demonstrated that exercise increased ovarian arterial blood flow leading up to ovulation and decreased vascular perfusion of the wall of the preovulatory follicle. Mares given rest the day after ovulation up until an embryo collection attempt did not improve embryo recovery rates.

Change in the ovarian environment after hysterectomy as assessed by ovarian arterial blood flow indices and serum anti-Müllerian hormone levels

Objective The aim of this prospective study was to evaluate the changes in the ovarian environment after hysterectomy based on ovarian arterial blood flow indices and serum anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) levels. Study design Ovarian arterial blood flow indices (pulsatile and resistance indices) by Doppler ultrasonography and serum AMH levels were measured at baseline and 1 week, 1 month, and 3 months after hysterectomy in 32 women ranging in age from 38 to 49 years, or at the time of screening in 21 age-matched controls. The study subjects underwent hysterectomy with conservation of both ovaries for benign diseases of the uterus (laparoscopy-assisted vaginal hysterectomy [LAVH], n = 26; and total abdominal hysterectomy [TAH], n = 6). The study subjects and controls were analyzed using a t-test or one-way analysis of variance. Results No differences existed in demographic profiles, ovarian arterial blood flow indices, and serum AMH levels at baseline between the hysterectomy and control groups. Ovarian arterial blood flow indices did not change before and after surgery, and there were no serial changes in the mean levels of serum AMH at each time point (1.80 ± 1.81 ng/mL [pre-operatively], 1.69 ± 1.62 ng/mL [1 week post-hysterectomy], 1.42 ± 1.34 ng/mL [1 month post-hysterectomy], and 1.52 ± 1.72 ng/mL [3 months post-hysterectomy]; p = 0.805). In addition, no significant differences in ovarian arterial blood flow indices and serum AMH levels existed between the LAVH and TAH groups. Conclusion This preliminary study suggests that hysterectomy does not affect the ovarian environment for up to 3 months post-operatively, as assessed by ovarian arterial blood flow indices and serum AMH levels.

Effects of a Copper-Medicated Intrauterine Device on Ovarian Artery, Uterine Artery, and Intrauterine Blood Flow

Aim: To determine the effect of a copper-medicated intrauterine device (IUD) on ovarian, uterine, arcuate, radial and subendometrial Doppler-derived indices of blood flow. Method: 23 regularly menstruating patients requested insertion of an IUD. All patients had a copper T (Nova T) IUD inserted between days 8 and 11 of the menstrual cycle. Ovarian, uterine, arcuate, radial and subendometrial artery pulsatility indices (PIs) were assessed by transvaginal color Doppler prior to insertion between days 8 and 11 of the menstrual cycle, and after 2 months in the same period of the cycle. Ovarian, uterine, arcuate, radial and subendometrial artery PIs were considered prior to and following IUD insertion. Results: No differences were recorded in any of the blood vessels sampled between pre- and post-insertion PIs. Conclusion: No significant change in ovarian or in uterine system vascular impedance is associated with the presence of a copper-medicated IUD.

Relationship Between Uterine and Ovarian Arterial Blood Flow Measured by Doppler Sonography at Different Stages of Puberty

Measuring blood flow using a special form of color Doppler ultrasonography can help radiologists to identify the stages of development of organs, such as the uterus and ovary. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between arterial blood flow to the uterus and ovaries at different stages of puberty. Sixty girls referred to the Children's Medical Center in Tehran for the evaluation of pubertal stages were included in the study. They were divided into three subgroups: girls without primary puberty signs ( n = 20); girls with these puberty signs but without the beginning of menstruation ( n = 20); and girls with signs of puberty and menstruation ( n = 20). Uterus and ovary volumes were measured with the use of a 3.5-MHz convex transducer (Logic 500 Pro; General Electric, Milwaukee, WI, USA) and Doppler flow measurements of the uterine vessels were performed transabdominally with a 3.5-MHz color Doppler system (AU4 Idea; Esaote Biomedica, Genoa, Italy). We found no significant differences between the groups in terms of either resistance index or pulsatility index of the right ovary, left ovary or uterus. However, there were relationships between the volume of the uterus and pubertal stages, and also between the volume of the ovaries and these stages. Uterine and ovarian arterial blood flow, measured by Doppler sonography, was not useful for the evaluation of pubertal stages. However, it should be investigated with a greater sample size.

Color doppler sonographic analysis of uterine and ovarian artery blood flow in women with polycystic ovary syndrome

To study the blood flow patterns of utero-ovarian circulation in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and to assess their relationship with clinical, metabolic, and hormonal data. Forty-three women with PCOS and 43 age-matched healthy controls underwent Doppler examination of the utero-ovarian circulation in the follicular phase. Demographic, hormonal, and metabolic parameters were determined. Student's t-test, chi(2)-test, and Spearman correlation test were used for statistical analysis. The ovarian artery pulsatility index (PI), resistance index (RI), and SD ratios were significantly lower in PCOS than in controls on the right side (p < 0.001, p = 0.02, p = 0.001, respectively) as well as on the left side (p < 0.001, p < 0.001, p < 0.001, respectively). The uterine artery systolic/diastolic (S/D) ratio was higher on both sides (p = 0.01) and the PI was higher on the left side (p = 0.02) in PCOS than in controls. The right uterine artery PI was positively correlated with luteinizing hormone and hemoglobin (r = 0.417, p = 0.043; r = 0.427, p = 0.033, respectively), the right uterine artery S/D was positively correlated with body mass index (r = 0.479, p = 0.015), and the left uterine artery PI was positively correlated with insulin (r = 0.458, p = 0.021). Doppler sonography of the utero-ovarian circulation may contribute to the evaluation of PCOS patients and a better understanding of the pathophysiology of this syndrome.

Color Doppler Flow Analysis of Uterine and Ovarian Arteries before and after Tubal Sterilization: Electrocautery versus Pomeroy

Background/Aim: To compare the changes in uterine and ovarian artery blood flow following laparoscopic sterilization via bipolar cautery with Pomeroy tubal ligation via mini-laparotomy in patients who had voluntary surgical sterilization. Methods: Ninety consecutive fertile women applying for voluntary tubal ligation were recruited in this prospective study. Patients were allocated for either laparoscopic tubal ligation via bipolar electrocoagulation (group 1) or Pomeroy tubal ligation via mini-laparotomy (group 2) according to their preference. Color Doppler flow analysis of uterine and ovarian arteries were carried out on the 3rd day of the cycle prior to the procedure (D₀), on the 3rd postoperative day (D₁) and on the 3rd day of the cycle, 3 months (D₃) following the surgery. The significance of difference between the three measurements was analyzed by using analysis of variance. Results: Prior to surgery, the mean pulsatility index of the uterine artery, left and right ovarian arteries were 1.9 ± 0.3, 1.8 ± 0.3, 1.8 ± 0.2 in group 1 and 1.8 ± 0.08, 1.8 ± 0.08, 1.8 ± 0.07 in group 2, respectively. There was no statistically significant difference between group 1 and group 2 in terms of D₀ values (p > 0.05). 3rd postoperative day and 3rd month measurements of both uterine and ovarian arteries in group 1 and group 2 did not show any statistically significant difference from that of preoperative values (p > 0.05). Conclusion: No alternation in the flow of either ovarian or uterine arteries following tubal sterilization performed by bipolar electrocautery and Pomeroy’s technique was determined both in the immediate postoperative period and 3 months after the surgery.

Examination of changes caused by tubal sterilization in ovarian hormone secretion and uterine and ovarian artery blood flow rates

Objectives To examine the changes caused by tubal sterilization (TS) in ovarian hormone secretion and uterine and ovarian circulation. Design Tubal sterilization was performed by minilaparotomy and laparoscopy methods in 36 women. Blood samples were taken for hormonal tests on Preoperative Day 3 (D3) of the menstrual cycle, on Postoperative Days 13–15 (periovulatory period) of the same cycle and on D3 in the 1st and 6th months post-TS. Uterine and ovarian artery blood flow rates of the women were measured on the same days as hormonal tests by transvaginal color Doppler ultrasonography (TVCDUSG). The control group was composed of 15 volunteers in the same age group who preferred the barrier method and who had the same TVCDUSG and hormonal analyses in the same periods. Results There was a decrease in the uterine and ovarian artery pulsatility index (PI) measurements and an increase in serum luteinizing hormone (LH) and estradiol (E 2) values during the periovulatory period as compared with preoperative and postoperative menstrual measurements in all groups. There was no difference between baseline uterine and ovarian artery PI and serum follicle-stimulating hormone, LH and E 2 values and those measured on D3 of the menstrual cycle in the 1st and 6th months post-TS. Conclusions The 6-month postoperative follow-up of groups that had undergone different TS methods showed no difference in uterine or ovarian artery blood flow rates or ovarian hormone secretion in comparison with baseline values.

The effect of clomiphene citrate on uterine and ovarian blood flow in patients with unexplained infertility. Does estrogen and progesterone treatment reverse these changes?

It is well-known that clomiphene citrate (CC) treatment has possible adverse effects on endometrial development. However it is not known whether changes in the uterine or ovarian blood flow or changes in hormonal values are related to this phenomenon. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether CC treatment causes uterine and ovarian blood flow changes and if so whether the use of preovulatory estrogen and luteal progesterone treatment restores them. Prospective longitudinal study in patients with unexplained infertility who were planned to undergo CC treatment. A total of 51 patients were included in this study. In their natural cycles women underwent preovulatory and mid-luteal uterine and ovarian artery blood flow (Pulsatility Index=PI, Resistance Index=RI) measurements, preovulatory estradiol, mid luteal progesterone assays and preovulatory and mid luteal endometrial thickness measurements. Then these values were compared with CC (100mg/day × 5 day) treatment cycles. Patients who were found to have one or more deteriorated parameters after CC treatment (endometrium <6 mm; luteal protesterone <10 ng/ml; PI 3; RI 0.9 ) were treated with conjugated estrogen(CEE) 0.625 mg/daily (9–14th day) and micronised vaginal progesterone(MP) 200mg/day in the luteal phase of the subsequent CC cycle. Mean values of preovulatory estradiol was significantly higher and preovulatory PI was significantly lower with CC treatment (p<0.05). Mean values of other parameters were not different in natural and CC cycles. There were no patients with abnormal values in their natural cycles, however CC treatment resulted in abnormal parameters in 23/51 (46%) of patients. Treatment with CC+CEE+MP resulted in restoration of abnormal parameters in 16/23 (65.2%) of patients. CC treatment causes uterine and ovarian blood flow alterations and has a deleterious effect on luteal hormonal values in almost half of the patients. This effect can be reversed by estrogen and progesterone treatments. Doppler evaluation in the preovulatory and luteal phase is a useful adjunct to detect the patients who can benefit of such a treatment.

Hemodynamic response of ovarian artery after hCG injection

We have analyzed ovarian hemodynamics immediately after human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) administration in patients treated by clomiphene-hCG and human menopausal gonadotropin-hCG. This study involved 40 infertile women who signed consents to participate in this study. After intramuscular injection of 10 000 IU hCG, the change of ovarian arterial blood flow (BF) was evaluated by color Doppler. Pulsatility index, resistance index, maximum velocity ( V max), mean velocity, minimum velocity, cross-sectional area of ovarian artery (Area) and BF were measured before and 15–180 min after hCG administration. In the 36 subjects in which ovulation was induced successfully, V max and BF increased significantly even at 15 min after hCG administration and thereafter. In the 4 non-ovulatory subjects, no significant changes in any of indices at any of measured time points were observed. Comparative study of non-ovulatory and ovulatory subjects suggested that ovulation may be predicted by the ovarian hemodynamic analysis immediately after hCG administration.

P139: Effects of a copper medicated intrauterine device on uterine, intrauterine and ovarian arterial blood flow

P139: Effects of a copper medicated intrauterine device on uterine, intrauterine and ovarian arterial blood flow

Effect of raloxifene on the ovarian circulation in women after menopause

Objective: We sought to determine whether raloxifene effects the ovarian circulation in women after menopause. Study Design: The resistance indices of the ovarian blood flow were assessed in 130 women after menopause who were randomly assigned to receive either 60 mg of raloxifene, a continuous combined estrogen-progestin tablet daily, or neither treatment for 24 months. Results: The women who received raloxifene or hormonal replacement therapy had a significant time-related decrease in the resistance index of the ovarian artery blood flow compared to baseline values (resistance index, 0.91) starting after 12 and 18 months of treatment (resistance index, 0.88 and 0.89, respectively; P <.002 and.001, respectively). Whereas significant increases in the resistance index respective to the prestudy values were observed in the nontreated women at 24 months (resistance index, 0.93; P <.0001). The mean (±SD) resistance index of the ovarian blood flow at the end of the study (resistance index, 0.89) was significantly lower in the women who were treated with raloxifene than in the women who were treated with hormone replacement therapy (P <.002). No changes in the ovarian dimensions or appearance were noticed during the entire study. Conclusion: Daily therapy with raloxifene has significant ovarian vascular-relaxing effect in women after menopause. This potentially important direct vasculoprotective long-term effect of raloxifene on cardiovascular disease deserves further investigation. (Am J Obstet Gynecol 2002;186:984-9.)

The changes in ovarian hormone levels and ovarian artery blood flow rate after laparoscopic tubal sterilization

Objective: To investigate the changes in serum ovarian hormone levels and ovarian artery blood flow rate by Doppler ultrasonography following laparoscopic tubal sterilization. Methods: Laparoscopic tubal sterilization have been performed on 13 voluntary subjects between the sixth and eighth days of the menstrual cycle. Serum ovarian hormone levels and ovarian artery blood flow rate, by Doppler ultrasonography, were determined 3 days before the operation, on the post-operative third day and on the post-operative third month. The results of 10 participants who finished the follow-up period were analyzed. Results: There were no statistically significant changes in serum levels of ovarian hormones after laparoscopic tubal ligation. The end-diastolic blood flow in ovarian artery was found to be decreased following tubal sterilization (8.7±2.8 and 7.4±1.8 m/sec, respectively, P>0.05), while resistivity index (RI) increased after the operation (0.7±0.1 and 0.8±0.03, respectively, P>0.05). Conclusion: There was no change in ovarian hormone levels after laparoscopic tubal sterilization. There is slight but statistically non-significant decrease in ovarian artery blood flow rate following tubal sterilization, signifying a local increase in vascular resistance.

WS17‐02Utero‐ovarian arterial blood flow and hormonal profile in patients with polycystic ovaries

BackgroundTo review the literature of utero‐ovarian arterial blood flow and serum hormonal profile in the patients with polycystic ovaries (PCO) compared to the patients with normal menstrual cycles undergoing in‐vitro fertilization treatment.MethodPertinent studies were identified through a computer MEDLINE search. References of selected articles were hand‐searched for additional citations.ResultsThe vascular impedance to uterine artery blood flow is higher during the luteal phase of PCO patients compared to the normally cycling patients and it does not show any dynamics throughout the menstrual cycle. In the normally cycling patients the active ovary shows dramatic hemodynamic changes during the cycle, therefore the vascular impedance to ovarian artery blood flow is almost constant throughout the menstrual cycle in the inactive ovary. In PCO patients the ovarian arterial blood flow in both ovaries is about the same as in inactive ovaries in the normally cycling patients. High vascular impedance to utero‐ovarian arterial blood flow is associated with typical low vascular impedance of stromal ovary vascularization in PCO patients. In stimulated cycles a strong negative correlation between the vascular impedance to the uterine artery blood flow and the serum E2 concentration is found on the day of HCG administration. Taking only anovulatory PCO cycles into consideration, the above correlation is not confirmed.ConclusionDoppler analysis can be a valuable method for the assessment of utero‐ovarian arterial blood flow in spontaneous and in stimulated cycles.

Transport of uterine PGF2 alpha to the ovaries by systemic circulation and local lymphovenous-arterial diffusion during luteolysis in sheep.

The theory of countercurrent vascular transfer of PGF2 alpha during luteolysis was examined. In the first experiment, pulmonary clearance of PGF2 alpha was determined to re-examine whether the total amount of PGF2 alpha was degraded in the lungs after one passage. Cardiac output was measured by the Fick method and PGF2 alpha by radio-immunoassay before and after vascular lung supply, using pulmonary catheterization and the interventional radiology method in ten anaesthetized ewes on day 16 of the oestrous cycle. Cardiac output remained stable (7156 +/- 439 ml min-1). Infusion of 5 iu oxytocin resulted in an increase in plasma PGF2 alpha concentrations at 30 min in the uterine vein and the pulmonary and femoral arteries (3811 +/- 806, 224 +/- 55 and 18 +/- 4 pg ml-1, respectively). The PGF2 alpha concentrations decreased exponentially and the half-time decreases were 27 (r = 0.99), 16 (r = 0.99) and 18 (r = 0.98) min, respectively. Pulmonary clearance of PGF2 alpha was estimated at 6338 +/- 451 ml min-1. In a second experiment, an arterio-arterial gradient of plasma PGF2 alpha concentrations was analysed between the proximal and distal segments of the ovarian artery to verify whether the total amount of PGF2 alpha flowing to the ovary was from the local venous-arterial countercurrent pathway. Surgical catheterization techniques were performed on 11 ewes on day 16 of the oestrous cycle. The ovarian arterial blood flow was measured by the implantable Doppler method (8 +/- 1 ml min-1). The maximum plasma PGF2 alpha concentrations in the femoral and distal ovarian arteries were 23 +/- 6 and 42 +/- 11 pg ml-1 (P < 0.05), respectively. Plasma PGF2 alpha decreased exponentially in the femoral artery and the half-time decrease was 26 min (r = 0.98), and in the distal ovarian artery close to the ovary PGF2 alpha decreased linearly and the half-time decrease was 108 min (r = 0.96). Consequently, the arterio-arterial diffusion gradient of PGF2 alpha concentrations was extended to 3 h. These experiments showed that the PGF2 alpha flow rate in the pulmonary artery was 42.275 +/- 10.793 micrograms per 150 min (n = 10) and the systemic arterial PGF2 alpha flow rate was 5.359 +/- 1.658 micrograms per 150 min (n = 10). Therefore, 12% of the PGF2 alpha was not oxidized by the lungs. The proximal ovarian PGF2 alpha flow rate was 6.909 +/- 2.341 ng per 150 min, while the distal flow rate was 21.003 +/- 5.703 ng per 150 min (n = 11). Thus, 33% of the PGF2 alpha was transported rapidly to the ovary via the systemic route, while 67% was transported by slow local countercurrent diffusion, which extended the duration of luteolytic activity to four times that of the PGF2 alpha surge. These results indicate both rapid systemic transport of PGF2 alpha to the ovaries and a slower buffer mechanism involving a local diffusion pathway, rather than a direct countercurrent system.

R-125. Changes in the serum concentrations of ovarian hormones and ovarian artery blood flow rate after laparoscopic tubal sterilization

R-125. Changes in the serum concentrations of ovarian hormones and ovarian artery blood flow rate after laparoscopic tubal sterilization

Short-term GnRH-analogue administration in patients with PCOS and its impact on hemodynamics and hormonal profile.

The ovarian response to 14 days of GnRH-analogue (GnRHa) application in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) was evaluated by measuring hemodynamic parameters and hormonal profile. Twenty patients with PCOS represented the study group, and 22 patients with normal menstrual cycle (NMC) the reference group. The resistance index (RI) of uteroovarian arterial blood flow and serum level of LH and androstendione were measured on days 4, 13, and 22 of the cycle and after 14 days of GnRHa administration. On day 22 of the cycle the RI in the uterine artery was 0.86 in the PCOS and 0.82 in the NMC group. Throughout the cycle the ovarian arterial blood flow in both ovaries in the PCOS group was similar to that in inactive ovaries in the NMC group. After the 14-day GnRHa administration the RI of uteroovarian blood flow and the serum level of androstenedione remained unchanged in the PCOS group. RI in the uteroovarian blood flow and serum androstendione level in the PCOS group are not affected by 14-day GnRHa administration.

Human follicular nitric oxide pathway: relationship to follicular size, oestradiol concentrations and ovarian blood flow.

Nitric oxide (NO) has been suggested to be involved in ovarian physiology. Our aim was to study follicular nitrite and nitrate (NO3/NO2) levels in women undergoing in-vitro fertilization (IVF), and to examine their relationship to follicular size, oestradiol concentrations, and ovarian artery and intra-ovarian blood flow as measured by Doppler ultrasound. A total of 15 patients from the IVF programme of Hadassah University Hospital, Mt Scopus, Israel, participated in the study. Detailed transvaginal ultrasonographic examination was performed before ovum collection, and ovarian artery and intra-ovarian blood flow were measured. While aspirating the follicles, the content of two to four of the follicles in each ovary was collected individually, the volume of follicular fluid measured, and NO3/NO2 concentrations were determined. A statistically significant positive correlation was found between follicular fluid NO3/NO2 concentrations and follicular volume (r = 0.76), as well as between NO3/NO2 concentrations and oestradiol concentrations (r = 0.63). A statistically significant negative correlation was found between follicular fluid NO3/NO2 concentrations and ovarian flow parameters as well as between NO3/NO2 concentrations in follicles containing 4-5 ml and ovarian artery pulsatility index.

Doppler colour flow analysis of uterine and ovarian arteries prior to and after surgery for tubal sterilization: a prospective study

Female sterilization by tubal ligation is a very common method of birth control. A relationship between tubal sterilization and subsequent development of menstrual disorders has been described in the literature but a biological mechanism explaining such an association has not yet been demonstrated. The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of tubal ligation by the Pomeroy technique on ovarian and uterine artery blood flow using pre- and post-surgical Doppler assessments. We studied prospectively 20 patients undergoing laparotomy for tubal ligation. All patients had a Doppler blood flow assessment before and after surgery, conducted in the mid-follicular phase of their cycle. The pulsatility index (PI) of the right uterine artery ranged from 1.44 to 3.86 (mean 2. 23) when measured prior to surgery and from 1.36 to 2.85 (mean 2.13) when measured after surgery. In the left uterine artery, the PI ranged from 1.67 to 3.17 (mean 2.17) and from 1.69 to 2.88 (mean 2. 22) before and after surgery respectively. The difference was not statistically significant. The PI of the right ovarian artery ranged from 1.38 to 3.48 (mean 2.41) prior to surgery and from 1.48 to 3.23 (mean 2.29) after surgery. In the left ovarian artery, the PI ranged from 1.36 to 3.62 (mean 2.54) and from 1.85 to 4.00 (mean 2.61) before and after surgery respectively. Again, the difference was not statistically significant. Our results suggest that tubal sterilization performed by Pomeroy's technique does not induce immediate alterations in the vascular flow of either ovarian or uterine arteries.

Vascular resistance in uterine and ovarian arteries: its association with infertility and the prognosis of infertility

In this study we investigated the blood flow in uterine (u.a.) and ovarian arteries (o.a.) in healthy women and infertility patients and the relationship of vascular resistance to the etiology and the prognosis of infertility. A total of 101 consecutive infertility patients referred to hospital for investigations were studied by Doppler ultrasound. Couples with male infertility were excluded. The control group comprised 19 healthy women having regular menstrual cycle and no history of infertility. The pulsatility index (PI) in o.a. and u.a. was measured in pre- and post-ovulatory phase of the menstrual cycle. The PI values of the controls were compared with those of the patients with various infertility etiologies. The PI values of the infertility patients who subsequently delivered were compared with those of the patients failing to deliver. Infertility patients had high PI in o.a. and u.a. in the luteal phase more often than controls. High vascular resistance in u.a. and o.a. in the luteal phase reduce the take-baby-home rate.

Ovarian blood flow throughout the estrous cycle and early pregnancy in sows.

The association between ovarian arterial blood flow (OBF), as measured with electromagnetic blood-flow transducers, and the concentrations of progesterone, estrone and estradiol-17 beta in systemic blood were determined throughout the estrous cycle and the first 21 days of pregnancy in four sows (first day of estrus or mating=Day 0). Changes in OBF were positively correlated (P less than 0.01) with the concentrations of progesterone in systemic blood throughout the estrous cycle (requal+0.63) and early pregnancy (requal+0.65) and negatively correlated (P less than 0.01) with estrone (r=-0.53) and estradiol-17 beta (r=-0.51) during the estrous cycle, but not (P greater than 0.10) during early pregnancy. In nonpregnant sows, OBF was lowest at estrus, highest during the luteal phase, and declined precipitously after Day 14 in association with declining concentrations of progesterone and increasing concentrations of estrogens in systemic blood. Patterns of OBF and progesterone during the subsequent pregnancy of each sow were similar to those observed during the estrous cycle until Day 12. Between Days 12 and 15 of pregnancy, blood flow to the ovary and progesterone in systemic blood exhibited transient rises of 26% (P less than 0.01) and 20% (P less than 0.05), respectively. Both an ovarian vasodilatory and luteotropic effect of the conceptuses was demonstrated on days critical for maintenance of the corpora lutea during early pregnancy in this species.