Edição dos proceedings da Annual Conference or the International Embryo Transfer Society, San Diego, California, 2009

ARASHIRO, E. K. N.

BRANDAO, F. Z.

BRUSCHI, J. H.

CAMARGO, L. S. de A.

FERNANDES, C. A. C.

FONSECA, J. F. da

SIQUEIRA, L. G. B.

VIANA, J. H. M.

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Ultrasound Reproduction, Fertility and Development 253Ultrasound313 ASSESSMENT OF LUTEAL FUNCTION IN TOGGENBURG GOATS BY COMPUTER-ASSISTEDIMAGE ANALYSISE. K. N. ArashiroA, J. H. M. VianaB, J. F. FonsecaC, L. G. B. SiqueiraB, J. H. BruschiB, L. S. CamargoB,C. A. C. FernandesD, and F. Z. BrandaoAAFederal Fluminense University, Niteroi, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil;BEmbrapa Dairy Cattle, Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais, Brazil;CEmbrapa Goats, Sobral, Ceara, Brazil;DBiotran, Alfenas, Minas Gerais, BrazilComputer-assisted image analysis is a technological extension of reproductive ultrasonography and allows the quantitative assessment of the lutealechotexture, which is related to changes in histological features and, consequently, to steroidogenesis. The aim of this study was to determine the254 Reproduction, Fertility and Development Ultrasoundefficiency of luteal echotexture evaluation as a tool to assess luteal function in different phases of the estrous cycle in Toggenburg goats. Nulliparousgoats (n= 21), 8 months in age, 33.52 ± 1.22 kg of body weight, and body score condition of 3.5 ± 0.07 (1 to 5 scale), which showed estrus withina 48-h period during the natural breeding season (March and April), were used. After estrous detection (Day 0) and mating, ovarian sonographicevaluations were performed daily using a portable ultrasound device (Aloka SSD 500, Aloka Co.) equipped with an adapted linear transrectal 5-MHzprobe. The examinations were preceded by blood sample collections, which were stored until radioimmunoassay for progesterone (P4). Images wererecorded in VHS tapes, then digitized to TIFF files (resolution of 1500 × 1125 pixels) using a video capture board. A representative elementary areaof 5625 pixels (0.31 cm2) was defined for the luteal tissue according to the criterion proposed by Van den Bygaart and Protz 1999. Computer-assistedanalyses were performed using custom-developed software (Quantporo®). Each pixel received a numeric value ranging from 0 (black) to 255 (white).Luteal echotexture and plasma P4 data were analyzed by ANOVA, and differences among means were determined by Tukey’s test. Correlationswere established by Pearson’s correlation method. Results are shown as mean ± SEM. Corpora lutea size increased progressively (P< 0.001) untilDay 9, when it reached the maximum area (1.26 ± 0.32 cm2). No increase in size was detected on the subsequent days (P> 0.05). Plasma P4 levelsincreased until a maximum value on Day 9 (6.31 ± 0.46 ng mL−1), and no increase was observed further (P> 0.05). In nonpregnant animals (n= 7),luteolysis was characterized by an abrupt decrease in plasma P4 concentration, which dropped to values lower than 1 ng mL−1 24 h after the onsetof the process, whereas luteal area decreased gradually. Plasma P4 concentration was correlated to luteal area during luteogenesis and luteolysis(r = 0.63 and r = 0.50, respectively; P< 0.05). Mean pixel value showed a progressive increase during luteogenesis and reached the maximumvalue on Day 13 (54.33 ± 1.83). During corpus luteum (CL) regression, mean pixel value decreased to lower values 48 h after the onset of naturalluteolysis (P< 0.05). Through both luteogenesis and luteolysis, positive correlations were observed between mean pixel values and luteal area(r = 0.34 and r = 0.26, respectively; P< 0.05) and also between mean pixel values and plasma P4 concentration (r = 0.24 and r = 0.37, respectively;P< 0.05). Pixel heterogeneity was not correlated to luteal area nor plasma P4 levels. These results suggest an association between CL echotexture andsteroidogenic function; therefore, the quantitative assessment of the pixel brightness has a potential to be used for luteal function evaluation in goats.FAPEMIG and CAPES.314 EARLY PREGNANCY DIAGNOSIS USING A NOVEL TRANSRECTAL ULTRASONOGRAPHYPROTOCOL IN JAPANESE BLACK COWSA. GajaB, C. KubotaA, and T. KojimaAAKagoshima University, Kagoshima, Japan;BYamaguchi University, Yamaguchi, JapanThe present study aims to establish a novel practical protocol for early pregnancy diagnosis in cows by using transrectal ultrasonography. Theprotocol is based on measurements of corpus luteum (CL) cross-sectional area (CL c-s area) change performed at 2 separate days before the comingestrus after AI. Fourteen cows were inseminated artificially, and transrectal ultrasonographical observation of the ovaries and blood collection formeasurement of peripheral plasma progesterone (P4) concentration were carried out daily from Days 12 to 23 (Day 0 = the day of onset of estrus).Thereafter, cows were routinely diagnosed for pregnancy at Day 30 by transrectal ultrasonography. The largest CL c-s area was obtained at Day 14in both pregnant and non-pregnant cows. Seven out of 8 non-pregnant cows showed significant CL c-s area regression between Days 14 and 20(422 ± 112 v. 249 ± 63 mm2), whereas no regression was observed between Days 14 and 20 in pregnant cows (416 ± 65 v. 402 ± 78 mm2). Theregression in the CL c-s area between pregnant and non-pregnant cows was significantly different during Day 18 (424 ± 65 v. 288 ± 88 mm2) to Day23 (402 ± 71 v. 139 ± 64 mm2). P4 concentration was significantly low (less than 1 ng mL−1) at Day 20 in 3 out of 8 non-pregnant cows, whereas thepregnant cows showed significant increase of P4 between Days 14 and 20 (2.6 ± 0.2 v. 3.4 ± 0.5 ng mL−1). The pregnant cows showed significantlyhigher P4 concentration starting from Day 18 than non-pregnant cows. However, in non-pregnant cows, 4 cows returned to estrus on Day 20 or after,3 cows showed no signs of estrus, and 1 cow came in estrus as early as Day 18 after AI. In conclusion, the results of the present study suggest thatmeasuring the change in the CL c-s area at Days 14 and 20 makes it possible to detect the non-pregnant cows at Day 20 after AI. However, it wasalso indicated that measuring the change of P4 concentrations on the same days did not always successfully detect non-pregnant cows. The newprotocol based on CL c-s area regression rate can detect almost certainly non-pregnant cows at Day 20 after AI. It is suggested that this method isadvantageous in research and industrial breeding.315 USE OF PERIFOLLICULAR BLOOD FLOW TO PREDICT THE DEVELOPMENTAL COMPETENCEOF BOVINE CUMULUS–OOCYTE COMPLEXES COLLECTED DURING REPEATEDOVUM PICKUP SESSIONS ONCE OR TWICE WEEKLYA. HanstedtA, K. HöffmannA, Ä. HonnensA, H. BollweinA, and C. WrenzyckiA,BAUniversity of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Clinic for Cattle, Hannover, Germany;BUniversity of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Reproductive Medicine Unit, Hannover, GermanyOn average, only 20% of the cumulus–oocyte complexes (COC) develop to the blastocyst stage (Merton et al. 2003 Theriogenology 59, 651–674). Anincrease in the blood supply to individual follicles appears to be associated with follicular growth rates, whereas a reduction seems to be closely relatedto follicular atresia (Acosta et al. 2003 Reproduction 125, 759–767). The purpose of this study was to determine whether qualitative perifollicularblood flow changes can be used to predict the developmental competence of COC collected during repeated ovum pickup (OPU) sessions once ortwice weekly. Lactating Holstein cows (n= 20) were used as oocyte donors. After dominant follicle removal, OPU was performed twice (group 1,for 3 weeks) or once (group 2, for six weeks) weekly employing a 7.5-MHz transducer (GE 8C-RS) of an ultrasound scanner (GE Logiq Book).

Assessment of luteal function in Toggenburg goats by computer-assisted image analysis.

http://www.alice.cnptia.embrapa.br/alice/bitstream/doc/748644/1/RACAssessmentofluteal.pdf

Assessment of luteal function in Toggenburg goats by computer-assisted image analysis.

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