title: Is uterine blood flow influenced by hCG and mare age?
abstract: Doppler ultrasonography is a noninvasive technique which enables us to follow the physiologic and physiopathologic changes in blood flow in tissues. It is becoming an essential tool in veterinary medicine, especially in theriogenology. Twenty-seven Arabian mares were grouped by age ('young', 3-10 y, n=15; 'old', 19-23 y, n=12). The uterine arteries of the mares were examined using Doppler ultrasonography when an ovarian follicle ≥35mm was visible (Day -1). After these measurements, human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG; 2500IU) was administered to 14 mares selected randomly. One day later (Day 0) Doppler ultrasonography was repeated and then the dominant follicles were aspirated to collect follicular fluid in all groups. On the next day (Day +1), Doppler indices of the uterine artery blood flow were measured again. Blood samples were also collected just prior to ultrasonography, for measuring serum estradiol and progesterone levels. We found that preovulatory hCG administration had no significant effects on uterine artery blood flow indices, or serum or follicular fluid estradiol concentrations. The uterine artery resistance index might decrease in young mares after ovulation, possibly because of increased uterine perfusion.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Istanbul University, Avcılar, Istanbul 34320, Turkey. Electronic address: turnaozge@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Ozge
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Turna Yilmaz
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Istanbul University, Avcılar, Istanbul 34320, Turkey.
authors.forename: Mehmet Can
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Gunduz
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Istanbul University, Avcılar, Istanbul 34320, Turkey.
authors.forename: Gamze
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Evkuran Dal
authors.affiliation: Istanbul University, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Horse Breeding and Coaching High School, Avcılar, Istanbul 34320, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ibrahim
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kurban
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Istanbul University, Avcılar, Istanbul 34320, Turkey.
authors.forename: Omer Mehmet
authors.initials: OM
authors.lastname: Erzengin
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Istanbul University, Avcılar, Istanbul 34320, Turkey.
authors.forename: Melih
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ucmak
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood; D030762:Estrous Cycle / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006736:Horses; D011374:Progesterone / Q000097:blood; D012039:Regional Blood Flow / Q000187:drug effects*; D018608:Ultrasonography, Doppler; D055988:Uterine Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology*; D014599:Uterus / Q000098:blood supply / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin; D011374:Progesterone; D004958:Estradiol
keywords: Age; Doppler ultrasonography; Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG); Mares; Uterine blood flow indices