A transducer probe for the detection of oestrogen effects on vaginal blood flow in sheep.

A simple prototype vaginal probe was designid for the electronic detection of oestrogen-induced blood flow changes by measuring thermal conductivity, tissue temperature, and light reflectance. The probe was tested in six castrate ewes. Treatment with oestradiol-17beta (1.0 mg iv) produced marked changes in thermal conductivity and temperature, but had no detectable effect on reflectance. The study demonstrates the feasibility of multiple-sensor electronic probes for non-invasive monitoring of peripheral oestrogen effects in vivo.