Quantification of dynamic changes to blood volume and vascular flow in the primate corpus luteum during the menstrual cycle.

Background: The objective of the current study was to determine changes to vascular parameters of nonhuman primate dominant ovarian structures by dynamic contrast-enhanced ultrasound (DCE-US).
Materials and Methods: Dynamic contrast-enhanced ultrasound with intravenous microbubble infusion was performed on the rhesus macaque ovary bearing the pre-ovulatory follicle and corpus luteum (CL) sequentially during the natural luteal phase (n = 8) and GnRH antagonist (antide)-induced luteal regression (n = 6).
Results: Changes in luteal blood volume (BV) and vascular flow (VF) were observed between stages of the luteal phase Luteal BV was highest in early stage CL, before decreasing 2.5-fold in late stage CL (P < 0.06); in contrast, luteal VF peaked at mid luteal stage (P < 0.01). Two females identified with luteal insufficiency trended toward lower peak BV, compared to typical CLs. Another female was identified with a luteal cyst on the contralateral ovary, and a CL that regressed before P levels declined. After 72 hours of antide exposure, BV was reduced 2.3-fold (P = 0.03).
Conclusions: DCE-US provides a sensitive, non-invasive measurement of the dynamics of blood volume and flow in dominant ovarian structures.
(© 2014 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)