title: Effects of induced endometritis on uterine blood flow in cows as evaluated by transrectal Doppler sonography.
abstract: This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of induced endometritis on uterine blood flow in cows. Transrectal Doppler sonography was performed on uterine arteries of six cyclic cows before and for 4 days after inducing acute endometritis by intrauterine infusion of 720 mg of policresulen, and for 4 days of the following estrous cycle. Time-averaged maximum velocity (TAMV) increased (p < 0.001) and pulsatility index (PI) decreased (p < 0.0001) within 1 h of policresulen administration, and did not change (p > 0.05) in the next 4 days of the same cycle. TAMV and PI values in the subsequent cycle did not differ (p > 0.05) from the values measured before infusion and showed no changes (p > 0.05) within the cycle. Blood flow parameters were not related (p > 0.05) to plasma concentrations of progesterone and estrogen. All cows showed an acute endometritis determined by histopathological findings of biopsy samples taken 1 day after infusion and fibrotic endometrial alterations detected in the subsequent cycle. No relationships were observed between fibrotic changes of the endometrium and uterine blood flow during either cycle. In conclusion, acute inflammation is accompanied by a rise in uterine blood flow, but fibrotic alterations do not seem to be related to Doppler sonographic findings.
authors.affiliation: Clinic for Cattle, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, 30173 Hannover, Germany.
authors.forename: Letizia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Debertolis
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, University of Bologna, 40064 Ozzano Emilia, Italy.
authors.forename: Gaetano
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mari
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, University of Bologna, 40064 Ozzano Emilia, Italy.
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Merlo
authors.affiliation: Institute of Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Leipzig, 04103 Leipzig, Germany.
authors.forename: Sabine
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Merbach
authors.affiliation: Institute of Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Leipzig, 04103 Leipzig, Germany.
authors.forename: Heinz-Adolf
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Schoon
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, University of Bologna, 40064 Ozzano Emilia, Italy.
authors.forename: Eleonora
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Iacono
authors.affiliation: Clinic of Reproductive Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zurich, CH-8057 Zürich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Heinrich
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bollwein
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004716:Endometritis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D005260:Female; D018615:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color / Q000662:veterinary; D055988:Uterine Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014599:Uterus / Q000098:blood supply / Q000503:physiopathology*
keywords: color Doppler sonography; cow; endometritis; uterine blood flow