Comparison of two methods to measure the area of ultrasonography images of corpus luteum in sheep

Sol Lafourcade; Juan Pedro Bottino; Marcelo Ratto; Rodolfo Ungerfeld

doi:10.53588/alpa.310402

Sol Lafourcade Departamento de Biociencias Veterinarias, Facultad de Veterinaria Universidad de la República
Juan Pedro Bottino Departamento de Biociencias Veterinarias, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de la República
Marcelo Ratto Instituto de Ciencia Animal, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad Austral de Chile
Rodolfo Ungerfeld Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de la República, Montevideo Uruguay https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4685-2105

DOI: https://doi.org/10.53588/alpa.310402

Keywords: Ovary, Sheep, Ultrasound, Reference technique, Follicular dynamics, Luteal dynamics

Abstract

Ultrasonography (US) is a helpful tool for studying follicular and luteal dynamics, ovulation, and embryo development. However, there is currently no gold standard reference technique for estimating the size of the corpus luteum (CL). The aim of this study was to compare the results from measuring ewes’ CL size based on its’ diameter or its’ surface with the aid of image software. The study involved 19 ewes, recording the images of 50 CLs at different stages of development, and therefore, calculating its’ size by both procedures. The results showed that measuring the CL diameter to calculate its’ area is a rapid and reliable technique that can effectively substitute the measurement of the surface, which requires precision and time. The study concluded that measuring the two main axes of the CL is a valid method for effectively estimating its size.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Adams, G. P., Griffin, P. G., & Ginther, O. J., 1989. In situ morphologic dynamics of ovaries, uterus, and cervix in llamas. Biology of reproduction, 41(3), 551–558

Assey, R.J., Purwantara, B., Greve, T., Hyttel, P., Schmidt, M.H., 1993. Corpus luteum size and plasma progesterone levels in cattle after cloprostenol-induced luteolysis. Theriogenology, 39, 1321-1330.

Bartlewski, P. M., Beard, A. P., Rawlings, N. C., 1999. An ultrasonographic study of luteal function in breeds of sheep with different ovulation rates. Theriogenology, 52(1), 115–130.

Bartlewski, P.M., Beard, A.P., Rawlings, N.C., 2000. Ultrasonographic study of ovarian function during early pregnancy and after parturition in the ewe. Theriogenology, 53(3), 673-689.

Bicalho, R. C., Galvão, K. N., Guard, C. L., Santos, J. E., 2008. Optimizing the accuracy of detecting a functional corpus luteum in dairy cows. Theriogenology, 70(2), 199–207.

Brito, L. F., Satrapa, R., Marson, E. P., & Kastelic, J. P., 2002. Efficacy of PGF(2alpha) to synchronize estrus in water buffalo cows (Bubalus bubalis) is dependent upon plasma progesterone concentration, corpus luteum size and ovarian follicular status before treatment. Animal reproduction science, 73(1-2), 23–35.

Da Silva, C. L. A., Laurenssen, B. F. A., Knol, E. F., Kemp, B., & Soede, N. M., 2017. Validation of transrectal ultrasonography for assessment of corpora lutea characteristics in pregnant sows and its relationship with litter characteristics at birth. Translational animal science, 1(4), 507–517.

Echternkamp, S. E., Cushman, R. A., & Allan, M. F., 2009. Size of ovulatory follicles in cattle expressing multiple ovulations naturally and its influence on corpus luteum development and fertility. Journal of animal science, 87(11), 3556–3568.

España, F., Pérez, C., Rodríguez, I., Dorado, J., Hidalgo, M., 2004. Estudio comparativo de la eficacia del diagnóstico precoz de gestación en vacuno mediante ecografía luteal y progesterona plasmática. Revista Científica FCV-LUZ, XIV(1), 20-27.

Fernández, A., Ulloa-Leal, C., Silva, M., Norambuena, C., Adams, G. P., Guerra, M., Ratto, M. H., 2014. The effect of repeated administrations of llama ovulation-inducing factor (OIF/NGF) during the peri-ovulatory period on corpus luteum development and function in llamas. Animal reproduction science, 149(3-4), 345–352.

Gajardo, G., Ulloa-Leal, C., Valderrama, X., Paiva, L., Ratto, M. H., 2021. Heterologous beta-nerve growth factor (β-NGF) given at the LH surge enhances luteal function in dairy heifers. Domestic animal endocrinology, 77, 106645.

Griffin, P. G., Ginther, O. J., 1992. Research applications of ultrasonic imaging in reproductive biology. Journal of animal science, 70(3), 953–972.

Gonzalez de Bulnes, A., Santiago Moreno, J., Gomez Brunet, A., Lopez Sebastian, A., 2000. Relationship between ultrasonographic assessment of the corpus luteum and plasma progesterone concentrations during the oestrus cycle in monovular ewes. Reproduction in Domestic Animals, 35(2), 65-68.

Herzog, K., Brockhan-Lüdemann, M., Kaske, M., Beindorff, N., Paul, V., Niemann, H., Bollwein, H., 2010. Luteal blood flow is a more appropriate indicator for luteal function during the bovine estrous cycle than luteal size. Theriogenology, 73(5), 691–697.

Kastelic, J.P; Bergfelt, D.R; Ginther, O.J., 1990. Relationship between ultrasonic assessment of the corpus luteum and plasma progesterone concentration in heifers. Theriogenology, 33, 1269-1278.

Kayacik, V., 2005. Evaluation of the corpus luteum size throughout the cycle by ultrasonography and progesterone assay in cows. Turkish Journal of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, 29, 311-1316.

Murillo Rios, A., 2013. Evaluación de la funcionalidad del cuerpo lúteo en vacas frisonas (bos taurus) con luteólisis inducida: ecografía modo B y color. Tesis de Maestria, Universidad Politecnica de Valencia.

Pierson, R. A., Ginther, O. J., 1984. Ultrasonography of the bovine ovary. Theriogenology, 21(3), 495–504.

Pierson, R.A., Ginther, O.J., 1987. Reliability of diagnostic ultrasonography for identification and measurement of follicles and detecting the corpus luteum in heifers. Theriogenology, 28(6), 929-936.

Ratto, M., Huanca, W., Singh, J., Adams, G. P., 2006. Comparison of the effect of natural mating, LH, and GnRH on interval to ovulation and luteal function in llamas. Animal reproduction science, 91(3-4), 299–306.

Viñoles, C., Meikle, A., Forsberg, M., 2004. Accuracy of evaluation of ovarian structures by transrectal ultrasonography in ewes. Animal reproduction science, 80(1-2), 69–79.

Schneider, C., Rasband, W., Eliceiri, K., 2012. NIH Image to ImageJ: 25 years of image analysis. Nat Methods 9, 671–675.

Silva, M., Ulloa-Leal, C., Norambuena, C., Fernández, A., Adams, G. P., Ratto, M. H., 2014. Ovulation-inducing factor (OIF/NGF) from seminal plasma origin enhances Corpus Luteum function in llamas regardless the preovulatory follicle diameter. Animal reproduction science, 148(3-4), 221–227.

Silva, M., Fernández, A., Ulloa-Leal, C., Adams, G. P., Berland, M. A., Ratto, M. H., 2015. LH release and ovulatory response after intramuscular, intravenous, and intrauterine administration of β-nerve growth factor of seminal plasma origin in female llamas. Theriogenology, 84(7), 1096–1102.

Simões, J., Potes, J., Azevedo, J., Almeida, J. C., Fontes, P., Baril, G., Mascarenhas, R., 2005. Morphometry of ovarian structures by transrectal ultrasonography in Serrana goats. Animal reproduction science, 85(3-4), 263–273.

Ulloa-Leal, C., Bogle, O. A., Adams, G. P., Ratto, M. H., 2014. Luteotrophic effect of ovulation-inducing factor/nerve growth factor present in the seminal plasma of llamas. Theriogenology, 81(8), 1101–1107.