Archived Abstracts
Contrast Imaging Ultrasound Detects Abnormalities in the Marmoset Ovary
Authors: J M Hastings, K D Morris, D Allan, H Wilson, R P Millar, H M Fraser, C M Moran.
The development of a functional vascular tree within the primate ovary is critical for reproductive health. However, an imbalance in this process contributes to a number of ovarian disorders including polycystic ovarian syndrome. Color Doppler ultrasonography is routinely used to evaluate ovarian vascular function and grey-scale ultrasonography is used to track both follicular and luteal growth and development. Contrast enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS) complements grey-scale ultrasonography by the intravenous addition of contrast agent (gas-filled microbubbles). The resulting increased contrast in backscatter between the microbubble-filled vascular compartments and surrounding tissue mass creates an enhanced sonographic image. Discrimination between different regions of interest (ROIs) can be achieved by qualitative study of enhancement filling dynamics between ROIs.
In this current study CEUS with Sonovue™ contrast agent was performed. Indicators of vascular haemodynamics were derived from the temporal parameters of contrast agent perfusion and an indication of vascular volume was derived from the enhancement parameters of ROIs within the marmoset ovary; namely, the highly vascular corpus luteum (CL) and the relatively avascular non-corpus luteum ovarian tissue (NCLOT).
These data suggest that CEUS can be used to show that vascular volume is greater in the CL compared to the NCLOT. Interestingly, time parameters, indicators of vascular haemodynamics, were not statistically different between these two ovarian compartments, suggesting that the filling dynamics were similar in the CL and the surrounding NCLOT.
These data demonstrate the first use of CEUS in the non-human primate. CEUS has potential use, not only in reproductive medicine, but also in veterinary medicine.
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