title: Quantification of dynamic changes to blood volume and vascular flow in the primate corpus luteum during the menstrual cycle.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The objective of the current study was to determine changes to vascular parameters of nonhuman primate dominant ovarian structures by dynamic contrast-enhanced ultrasound (DCE-US).
  
  
  METHODS
  Dynamic contrast-enhanced ultrasound with intravenous microbubble infusion was performed on the rhesus macaque ovary bearing the pre-ovulatory follicle and corpus luteum (CL) sequentially during the natural luteal phase (n = 8) and GnRH antagonist (antide)-induced luteal regression (n = 6).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Changes in luteal blood volume (BV) and vascular flow (VF) were observed between stages of the luteal phase Luteal BV was highest in early stage CL, before decreasing 2.5-fold in late stage CL (P < 0.06); in contrast, luteal VF peaked at mid luteal stage (P < 0.01). Two females identified with luteal insufficiency trended toward lower peak BV, compared to typical CLs. Another female was identified with a luteal cyst on the contralateral ovary, and a CL that regressed before P levels declined. After 72 hours of antide exposure, BV was reduced 2.3-fold (P = 0.03).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  DCE-US provides a sensitive, non-invasive measurement of the dynamics of blood volume and flow in dominant ovarian structures.
authors.affiliation: Division of Reproductive & Developmental Sciences, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Beaverton, OR, USA.
authors.forename: Cecily V
authors.initials: CV
authors.lastname: Bishop
authors.forename: Theodore A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Molskness
authors.forename: Fuhua
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: J Todd
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Belcik
authors.forename: Jonathan R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Lindner
authors.forename: Ov D
authors.initials: OD
authors.lastname: Slayden
authors.forename: Richard L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Stouffer
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001810:Blood Volume; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003287:Contrast Media; D003338:Corpus Luteum / Q000098:blood supply*; D005260:Female; D008253:Macaca mulatta / Q000097:blood*; D008597:Menstrual Cycle / Q000502:physiology*; D012039:Regional Blood Flow; D014463:Ultrasonography
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media
keywords: dynamic contrast-enhanced ultrasound; luteal blood flow; non-human primate; ovarian vasculature; rhesus monkey