Cyclic changes in endometrial echotexture of cows using a computer-assisted program for the analysis of first- and...

The aim of this study was to test the suitability of a computer-assisted echotexture analysis program for analysing first- and second-order grey level statistics of grey levels of B-Mode ultrasound images to examine morphologic changes in the endometrium during oestrous cycle in cows. Four Simmental cows were examined for two consecutive oestrous cycles. Echotexture of the endometrium was assessed by mean grey level (MGL) and homogeneity (HOM) of digitised B-Mode images of the uterine body and both uterine horns. As there were no differences (P>0.05) in MGL and HOM, respectively, between the images of the uterine body and the uterine horns, the mean values of all endometrial images were used for subsequent analyses of MGL and HOM. The factor 'day of oestrous cycle' showed a highly significant (P<0.0001) effect and the factor 'cow' showed a significant (P<0.05) effect on MGL and HOM. No differences (P>0.05) in both echotexture parameters were measured between oestrous cycles within cows. MGL was negatively related to HOM (r=-0.66; P<0.0001). Low MGL and high HOM occurred on Day 0 (=ovulation) and between Days -3 and -1. While MGL was consistently (P>0.05) low between Days -3 and -1, significant changes of HOM with maximum levels on Day -2 (P<0.05) were observed during this time. MGL was consistently (P>0.05) high between Days 4 and 13 while HOM was consistently (P>0.05) low between Days 2 and 13. From Day -3 to Day -1 (r=0.48; P<0.05) plasma oestrogen levels were correlated with HOM, but not with MGL (P<0.05). The results of this study show that changes in endometrial morphology of cows can be measured using a computer-assisted texture analysis program.