Ultrasound monitoring of corpus luteum morphological evolution and serum progesterone concentration in pregnant and non-pregnant dogs: A prospective, observational study

The corpus luteum is the only structure producing progesterone during pregnancy in dogs. The aim of this study was to characterise morphological changes of corpora lutea in the bitch and assess their relationship with body weight, serum progesterone concentration, and multiple resorptions. We monito...

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Main Authors: Alessandra Paganotto, Camille Langlade, Samuel Buff, Émilie Rosset
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-06-01
Series:Veterinary and Animal Science
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2451943X25000213
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author Alessandra Paganotto
Camille Langlade
Samuel Buff
Émilie Rosset
author_facet Alessandra Paganotto
Camille Langlade
Samuel Buff
Émilie Rosset
author_sort Alessandra Paganotto
collection DOAJ
description The corpus luteum is the only structure producing progesterone during pregnancy in dogs. The aim of this study was to characterise morphological changes of corpora lutea in the bitch and assess their relationship with body weight, serum progesterone concentration, and multiple resorptions. We monitored 26 bitches weekly from ovulation confirmation to 35 days post-ovulation, measuring the corpora lutea diameter via ultrasound examination in combination with progesterone assays. The pregnancy rate was 80.7% (21/26), and all pregnancies were carried to term. Dogs were classified into small (5–15 kg), medium (16–39 kg), and large breeds (40–65 kg). Dog weight significantly influenced mean luteal diameter (P < 0.001), which ranged from a mean ± SD of 3.4 ± 0.5 mm for small dogs to 6.0 ± 0.7 mm for large dogs on the day of ovulation confirmation. From ovulation confirmation to peak, corpora lutea grew significantly (2.1 ± 1.2 mm; P < 0.001) and returned to their initial size by day 35. Surprisingly, one-third of maximum corpora lutea exceeded 1 cm before undergoing subsequent physiological diametric reduction. This growth in luteal diameter was positively correlated with serum progesterone concentration (P < 0.05). This study provides novel findings on canine corpus luteum characteristics, not previously described in literature, which could aid ovulation detection and differentiation between physiological and potentially pathological structures.
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spelling doaj-art-7873def5b4ab4e4eabac8d049d8695222025-08-20T01:51:45ZengElsevierVeterinary and Animal Science2451-943X2025-06-012810044410.1016/j.vas.2025.100444Ultrasound monitoring of corpus luteum morphological evolution and serum progesterone concentration in pregnant and non-pregnant dogs: A prospective, observational studyAlessandra Paganotto0Camille Langlade1Samuel Buff2Émilie Rosset3Corresponding author at: Université de Lyon, VetAgro Sup, 1 avenue Bourgelat 69280 Marcy l'Etoile, France.; Université de Lyon, VetAgro Sup, 1 avenue Bourgelat, 69280 Marcy l'Etoile, FranceUniversité de Lyon, VetAgro Sup, 1 avenue Bourgelat, 69280 Marcy l'Etoile, FranceUniversité de Lyon, VetAgro Sup, 1 avenue Bourgelat, 69280 Marcy l'Etoile, FranceUniversité de Lyon, VetAgro Sup, 1 avenue Bourgelat, 69280 Marcy l'Etoile, FranceThe corpus luteum is the only structure producing progesterone during pregnancy in dogs. The aim of this study was to characterise morphological changes of corpora lutea in the bitch and assess their relationship with body weight, serum progesterone concentration, and multiple resorptions. We monitored 26 bitches weekly from ovulation confirmation to 35 days post-ovulation, measuring the corpora lutea diameter via ultrasound examination in combination with progesterone assays. The pregnancy rate was 80.7% (21/26), and all pregnancies were carried to term. Dogs were classified into small (5–15 kg), medium (16–39 kg), and large breeds (40–65 kg). Dog weight significantly influenced mean luteal diameter (P < 0.001), which ranged from a mean ± SD of 3.4 ± 0.5 mm for small dogs to 6.0 ± 0.7 mm for large dogs on the day of ovulation confirmation. From ovulation confirmation to peak, corpora lutea grew significantly (2.1 ± 1.2 mm; P < 0.001) and returned to their initial size by day 35. Surprisingly, one-third of maximum corpora lutea exceeded 1 cm before undergoing subsequent physiological diametric reduction. This growth in luteal diameter was positively correlated with serum progesterone concentration (P < 0.05). This study provides novel findings on canine corpus luteum characteristics, not previously described in literature, which could aid ovulation detection and differentiation between physiological and potentially pathological structures.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2451943X25000213Corpus luteumUltrasoundPregnancyBitchProgesteroneFollicle
spellingShingle Alessandra Paganotto
Camille Langlade
Samuel Buff
Émilie Rosset
Ultrasound monitoring of corpus luteum morphological evolution and serum progesterone concentration in pregnant and non-pregnant dogs: A prospective, observational study
Veterinary and Animal Science
Corpus luteum
Ultrasound
Pregnancy
Bitch
Progesterone
Follicle
title Ultrasound monitoring of corpus luteum morphological evolution and serum progesterone concentration in pregnant and non-pregnant dogs: A prospective, observational study
title_full Ultrasound monitoring of corpus luteum morphological evolution and serum progesterone concentration in pregnant and non-pregnant dogs: A prospective, observational study
title_fullStr Ultrasound monitoring of corpus luteum morphological evolution and serum progesterone concentration in pregnant and non-pregnant dogs: A prospective, observational study
title_full_unstemmed Ultrasound monitoring of corpus luteum morphological evolution and serum progesterone concentration in pregnant and non-pregnant dogs: A prospective, observational study
title_short Ultrasound monitoring of corpus luteum morphological evolution and serum progesterone concentration in pregnant and non-pregnant dogs: A prospective, observational study
title_sort ultrasound monitoring of corpus luteum morphological evolution and serum progesterone concentration in pregnant and non pregnant dogs a prospective observational study
topic Corpus luteum
Ultrasound
Pregnancy
Bitch
Progesterone
Follicle
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2451943X25000213
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