R. Hermes et al., Ultrasonography of the ovaries and uterus and grey scale analysis of the endometrium during embryonic diapause in European roe deer, ACT THERIOL, 45(4), 2000, pp. 559-572
Knowledge about the mechanisms of embryonic diapause in European roe deer C
apreolus capreolus (Linnaeus, 1758), although first described 140 years ago
, is not extensive. Tn contrast to post mortem publications, this is an in-
vivo study which monitored individual ovarian and uterine dynamics during d
iapause by transrectal ultrasonography. Ten roe deer were examined at 4 to
8-week intervals starting from the end of the breeding season (August) unti
l after implantation (January). Sonographic appearance of corpora lutea and
their average number observed per animal did not differ between pregnant (
3.6) and non-pregnant (3.2) does prior to implantation. However, in pregnan
t animals (n = 5) endometrial changes associated with embryonic diapause we
re identified. The endometrium in pregnant does were low in echogenicity co
mpared to the non-pregnant. Changes in echogenicity of the endometrium were
first detected three months before implantation. Observed endometrial chan
ges were quantified by computer-assisted grey scale analysis. Mean medians
of grey scale histograms were lower in pregnant compared to non-pregnant an
imals beginning as from October. In late December and January, embryonic st
ructures were detected in animals in which a low echogenic endometrium had
been observed earlier. Ultrasonography and grey scale analysis characterise
d efficiently the dynamic processes in the uterus and ovary during embryoni
c diapause in pregnant and non-pregnant roe deer.