title: Luteal blood flow and luteal function.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Blood flow in the corpus luteum (CL) is associated with luteal function. The present study was undertaken to investigate whether luteal function can be improved by increasing CL blood flow in women with luteal phase defect (LFD).
  
  
  METHODS
  Blood flow impedance in the CL was measured by transvaginal color-pulsed-Doppler-ultrasonography and was expressed as a resistance index (RI). The patients with both LFD [serum progesterone (P) concentrations < 10 ng/ml during mid-luteal phase] and high CL-RI (>/= 0.51) were given vitamin-E (600 mg/day, n = 18), L-arginine (6 g/day, n = 14) as a potential nitric oxide donor, melatonin (3 mg/day, n = 13) as an antioxidant, or HCG (2,000 IU/day, n = 10) during the subsequent menstrual cycle.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the control group (n = 11), who received no medication to increase CL blood flow, only one patient (9%) improved in CL-RI and 2 patients (18%) improved in serum P. Vitamin-E improved CL-RI in 15 patients (83%) and improved serum P in 12 patients (67%). L-arginine improved CL-RI in all the patients (100%) and improved serum P in 10 patients (71%). HCG improved CL-RI in all the patients (100%) and improved serum P in 9 patients (90%). Melatonin had no significant effect.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Vitamin-E or L-arginine treatment improved luteal function by decreasing CL blood flow impedance. CL blood flow is a critical factor for luteal function.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, Minamikogushi 1-1-1, Ube, 755-8505 Japan. sugino@yamaguchi-u.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Akihisa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Takasaki
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tamura
authors.forename: Ken
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Taniguchi
authors.forename: Hiromi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Asada
authors.forename: Toshiaki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Taketani
authors.forename: Aki
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Matsuoka
authors.forename: Yoshiaki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yamagata
authors.forename: Katsunori
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Shimamura
authors.forename: Hitoshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Morioka
authors.forename: Norihiro
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sugino