Changes in perifollicular vascularity after administration of human chorionic gonadotropin measured by quantitative three-dimensional power Doppler ultrasound.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the perifollicular vascular network and blood flow changes of the dominant preovulatory follicle using quantitative three-dimensional (3D) power Doppler analysis.


METHODS
A total of 21 cycles were studied in spontaneously ovulating women who underwent folliculometry and 3D power Doppler angiography of perifollicular blood flow of the dominant preovulatory follicle on the day of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) administration and 24 h after it.


RESULTS
At 24 h after the administration of hCG, increases were found in the area inside the biggest follicular circumference (8.48 +/- 1.73 cm(2) vs. 9.30 +/- 1.64 cm(2)), in the percentage of vessel volume inside the perifollicular capsule (3.58 +/- 3.65% vs. 7.76 +/- 10.13%) and in total perifollicular blood volume (931.33 +/- 1084.60 vs. 3486.00 +/- 7272.34). Moreover, the rearrangement in blood volume distribution resulted in equalization of the contribution of each feeding vessel to total perifollicular blood flow. A more uniform vascular network resulting in decreased dominance of a single feeding vessel in total inflow was found (50.50 +/- 28.18% vs. 29.05 +/- 14.14%).


CONCLUSIONS
After the administration of hCG there was a visible increase in perifollicular capillary network volume, relative volume of blood, and balancing of blood inflow of each feeding vessel of the perifollicular circulation.
Department of Reproductive Medicine and Gynecologic Endocrinology, University Clinical Center Maribor, Maribor, Slovenia. vlai@ukc-mb.si
Veljko
V
Vlaisavljević
Elko
E
Borko
Branko
B
Radaković
Damjan
D
Zazula
Marko
M
Dosen
D000328:Adult; D001810:Blood Volume / Q000187:drug effects; D002196:Capillaries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000187:drug effects; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro; D005498:Follicular Phase / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods*; D016571:Neural Networks, Computer; D006080:Ovarian Follicle / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012039:Regional Blood Flow / Q000187:drug effects; D020554:Sperm Injections, Intracytoplasmic; D018615:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color / Q000379:methods*
D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin