title: Transrectal Doppler sonography of uterine blood flow in ewes during pregnancy.
abstract: In sheep, there is a lack of information on the behaviour of hemodynamic indices and parameters of blood flow velocity of the uterine artery during pregnancy, making it impossible to determine the real meaning of the values found and their probable relevance in normal physiological or pathological states. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the blood flow velocity parameters and hemodynamic indices of the uterine artery in ewes (18) during pregnancy (33). Based on non-invasive colour Doppler sonography, we evaluated the peak systolic velocity (PS), end diastolic velocity (ED), time-averaged maximum and minimum velocity in a cardiac cycle (TAMAX and TAMEAN), pulsatility index (PI), resistance index (RI), systolic/diastolic ratio (S/D), heart rate (HR), arterial diameter (AD) and the blood flow volume (BFV). Examinations started on day 28 and continued at two-week intervals until parturition. The Doppler parameters and the diameter of the uterine artery underwent significant changes during pregnancy. In the evaluated animals, indices related to resistance of the uterine artery, namely the impedance of blood flow, decreased throughout the initial, middle and late stages of gestation (PI: 1.15, 1.04, 0.97; RI: 0.61, 0.59, 0.57; S/D: 2.68, 2.52, 2.39, respectively) (p < 0.05). In contrast, the contents related to higher uterine irrigation increased during gestation (PS, ED, TAMAX, TAMEAN, HR, AD and BFV) (p < 0.05). No differences were found between the means of the variables in relation to the right and left uterine arteries and between single and multiple pregnancies in the hemodynamic indices. The present study is the first to demonstrate changes in uterine hemodynamics throughout pregnancy in sheep.
authors.affiliation: Centro Universitário do Espírito Santo (UNESC), Avenida Fioravante Rossi, 2930, Colatina, ES, 29703-900, Brazil. Electronic address: rtbeltrame@yahoo.com.br.
authors.forename: Renato Travassos
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: Beltrame
authors.affiliation: Centro Universitário do Espírito Santo (UNESC), Avenida Fioravante Rossi, 2930, Colatina, ES, 29703-900, Brazil.
authors.forename: Carolina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Covre
authors.affiliation: Centro Universitário do Espírito Santo (UNESC), Avenida Fioravante Rossi, 2930, Colatina, ES, 29703-900, Brazil.
authors.forename: Lucas Buss
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Littig
authors.affiliation: Centro Universitário do Espírito Santo (UNESC), Avenida Fioravante Rossi, 2930, Colatina, ES, 29703-900, Brazil.
authors.forename: Amanda de Barros
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Martins
authors.affiliation: Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense (UENF), Av. Alberto Lamego, 2000, Parque California, Campos dos Goitacazes, RJ, 28035-200, Brazil.
authors.forename: Celia Raquel
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Quirino
authors.affiliation: Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense (UENF), Av. Alberto Lamego, 2000, Parque California, Campos dos Goitacazes, RJ, 28035-200, Brazil.
authors.forename: Aylton Bartholazzi
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Junior
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Zootecnia (IZ), Rua Heitor Penteado, 56, Nova Odessa, SP, 13460-000, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ricardo Lopes Dias
authors.initials: RLD
authors.lastname: da Costa
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity / Q000662:veterinary; D005260:Female; D006439:Hemodynamics; D011247:Pregnancy; D011270:Pregnancy, Animal / Q000502:physiology*; D012039:Regional Blood Flow; D012756:Sheep / Q000502:physiology*; D018608:Ultrasonography, Doppler / Q000662:veterinary; D014599:Uterus / Q000098:blood supply / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*
keywords: Blood flow volume; Non-invasive colour Doppler sonography; Pregnancy; Sheep; Uterine artery