title: Contrast-enhanced ultrasound reveals real-time spatial changes in vascular perfusion during early implantation in the macaque uterus.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To use contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEU) to quantify blood flow in the macaque uterus during early pregnancy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective nonhuman primate study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Oregon National Primate Research Center.
  
  
  METHODS
  Naturally cycling female rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta).
  
  
  METHODS
  Female macaques were mated on days 11-14 of the cycle. Females were then imaged by CEU and Doppler ultrasound once every 3 days from day 21 through day 39 of the fertile cycle.
  
  
  METHODS
  Visualization and quantification of uterine vascular perfusion.
  
  
  RESULTS
  CEU identified the primary placental disc and underlying vessels approximately 2 days earlier than Doppler ultrasound was able to observe endometrial thickening. CEU revealed spatial differences in vascular perfusion between the endometrium, myometrium, and endometrial-myometrial (junctional) zone. Myometrium displayed the highest rate of blood flow (>10 mL/min/g tissue). There was less blood flow in the endometrium and junctional zone (<3 mL/min/g). A brief fall in progesterone was observed during early implantation, which was correlated with reduced blood flow to all three uterine compartments, but did not reduce flow to the placenta.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CEU provides a sensitive, noninvasive method to assess vascular perfusion of the uterus during embryo implantation in macaques. We propose CEU as a new diagnostic tool to monitor vascular changes associated with early pregnancy in women.
authors.affiliation: Division of Reproductive Sciences, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Oregon Health and Science University, Beaverton, Oregon 97006-3448, USA. keatorc@ohsu.edu
authors.forename: Christopher S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Keator
authors.forename: Jonathan R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Lindner
authors.forename: J Todd
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Belcik
authors.forename: Cecily V
authors.initials: CV
authors.lastname: Bishop
authors.forename: Ov D
authors.initials: OD
authors.lastname: Slayden
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003199:Computer Systems; D003287:Contrast Media; D010064:Embryo Implantation / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D008253:Macaca mulatta; D011247:Pregnancy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012039:Regional Blood Flow / Q000502:physiology; D018608:Ultrasonography, Doppler; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal / Q000379:methods; D014599:Uterus / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media