Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Faculty of Veterinary, University of Kafkas, Kars, Türkiye.
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Faculty of Veterinary, University of Kafkas, Kars, Türkiye.
Theriogenology. 2022 Dec;194:83-91. doi: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2022.09.022. Epub 2022 Sep 26.
Although Doppler ultrasonography (USG) is frequently used in human medicine to evaluate placental function and fetal well-being, studies in veterinary medicine are limited. Thus, this study aimed to determine the relationship between placentome perfusion and echotexture and endocrine changes during the last stages of pregnancy in cows using B-mode/Doppler USG and reveal the effects of hormonal changes on placentome and uterine artery hemodynamics. The animals consisted of 12 pregnant Swiss Brown cows 3.8 ± 0.34 years old with at least one birth. Imaging with USG was continued for 1 month, thrice weekly, until delivery. To determine serum progesterone (P4), total estrogen, and cortisol levels, blood was drawn from the tail vein immediately after USG examinations. Contrast (CON), homogeneity (HOM), and mean gray value (MGV) were determined by placentome echotexture analysis. Color Doppler perfusion areas (A mix) and power Doppler perfusion areas (A red) of the placentome, pulse rate (PR), pulsatility index (PI), resistance index (RI), blood flow velocity (BFVe), blood flow volume (BFVo), and diameter (DM) in the spectral analysis of uterine artery values were collected. ImageJ was used to analyze the B-mode images, and PixelFlux (Chameleon® Software, Münster, Germany) was used to calculate the placentome perfusion values and hemodynamic parameters of the uterine artery in Doppler images. In the last month of pregnancy, there was no statistical difference in the placentome echotexture values CON and HOM. However, MGV increased close to birth (P < 0.001). Placentome perfusion level and area did not change significantly but were found to decrease numerically 2 days before delivery (P > 0.05). Uterine artery PR increased from 62.36 bpm on day 25 prepartum to 81.42 bpm at birth (P < 0.05). The P4 concentration decreased in the last month of pregnancy, whereas an increase was detected in estrogen and cortisol during this period (P < 0.05). In the uterine artery of pregnant cornu, RI and PI were negatively correlated with BFVe (P < 0.01). Based on this study, echotextural differences were observed in placentomes in the last stage of pregnancy in cows, and there were significant changes in placental and uterine artery blood flow. These changes may be related to placental maturation, especially on the days close to birth.
尽管多普勒超声（USG）在人类医学中常用于评估胎盘功能和胎儿健康状况，但兽医领域的研究有限。因此，本研究旨在使用 B 型/多普勒 USG 确定奶牛妊娠末期胎盘灌注与回声纹理之间的关系，并揭示激素变化对胎盘和子宫动脉血液动力学的影响。研究对象为 12 头年龄为 3.8±0.34 岁、至少分娩过一次的瑞士棕色奶牛。在分娩前，每周三次，通过 USG 连续成像 1 个月。通过尾静脉采血，立即测定血清孕激素（P4）、总雌激素和皮质醇水平。通过胎盘回声纹理分析确定胎盘回声的对比（CON）、均匀性（HOM）和平均灰度值（MGV）。收集胎盘灌注区（A mix）和彩色多普勒灌注区（A red）、脉冲率（PR）、搏动指数（PI）、阻力指数（RI）、血流速度（BFVe）、血流容积（BFVo）和子宫动脉频谱分析的直径（DM）。使用 ImageJ 分析 B 型图像，使用 PixelFlux（Chameleon® Software，德国明斯特）计算胎盘灌注值和子宫动脉多普勒图像的血液动力学参数。在妊娠最后 1 个月，胎盘回声的 CON 和 HOM 值无统计学差异。然而，MGV 在接近分娩时增加（P<0.001）。胎盘灌注水平和面积没有显著变化，但在分娩前 2 天发现数值下降（P>0.05）。子宫动脉 PR 从产前 25 天的 62.36 bpm 增加到分娩时的 81.42 bpm（P<0.05）。妊娠最后 1 个月 P4 浓度降低，而在此期间雌激素和皮质醇水平升高（P<0.05）。在妊娠角的子宫动脉中，RI 和 PI 与 BFVe 呈负相关（P<0.01）。基于本研究，在奶牛妊娠末期观察到胎盘回声纹理存在差异，胎盘和子宫动脉血流有明显变化。这些变化可能与胎盘成熟有关，尤其是在接近分娩的日子。
