B- mode and Color Doppler sonographic appearance of pelvic tendon, ligament, and uterine blood flow in non-pregnant and heavy pregnant dairy cows

Abstract The present study was carried out to provide comparative B-mode and Doppler ultrasonographic description of pelvic tendon, ligaments, middle uterine artery and placentom in non-pregnant and heavy pregnant cows. It is also, monitors pregnancy associated changes including hemodynamic parameters of middle uterine artery along with, serum estrogen and progesterone levels. Forty healthy pluiparous dairy cows of native breeds were used in this study. The animals were divided into two groups each contain 20 cows. The first one was non-pregnant and the second one was heavy pregnant at 9th month of gestation. The examination was carried out with multiple imaging B-mode and color Doppler ultrasonography. Pelvic tendon and ligaments including dorsal branch of the dorsal sacroiliac ligament- thoracolumbar fascia combination (D-DSIL-TLF), lateral and ventral branches of the dorsal sacroiliac ligament (L-DSIL and V-DSIL respectively), and sacrosciatic ligament (SSL) as well as the middle uterine artery (MUA) and placentome were examined. Serum estrogen and progesterone levels were also evaluated and compared between both groups. The obtained results revealed that pregnancy greatly influence doppler indices and diameter of MUA as well as serum estrogen and progesterone concentration besides, measurements of pelvic ligaments except for the thickness and cross -sectional area of D-DSIL- TLF combination. The obtained results can be used as a guide for future studies dealing with monitoring normal and abnormal pregnancy in cows.