title: Biomedical applications of ovarian transvaginal ultrasonography in cattle.
abstract: Ovarian transvaginal ultrasonography (OTU) has been used world-wide for commercial ovum pick-up programs for in vitro embryo production in elite herds, providing an excellent model for the elucidation of factors controlling bovine oocyte developmental competence. Noninvasive sampling and treatment of ovarian structures is easily accomplished with bovine OTU techniques providing a promising system for in vivo delivery of transgenes directly into the ovary. The current review summarizes existing bovine OTU models and provides prospective applications of bovine OTU to undertake research in reproductive topics of biomedical relevance, with special emphasis on the development of in vivo gene transfer strategies.
authors.affiliation: a Centre for Biological Sciences , University of Southampton, Southampton General Hospital , Southampton , United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Miguel A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Velazquez
authors.forename: Wilfried A
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Kues
authors.forename: Heiner
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Niemann
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001947:Breeding; D002417:Cattle; D005260:Female; D010053:Ovary / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000379:methods* / Q000662:veterinary*
keywords: Cattle; In vivo; Ovary; Transgenesis; Transvaginal ultrasonography