P-71: Valutation of Vascularization in Cowswith Follicular Cysts after Epidural Administrationof a GnRH Analogue

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of administration of a GnRH analogue to cows with ovarian follicular cysts on plasma renin concentrations and ovarian vascularization. Materials and Methods: This study was performed with 60 Friesian cows, which were diagnosed with follicular cysts, and randomly allocated into two groups: group A (treatment; n = 30) received 2 ml of lecirelin (Dalmarelin® – Fatro), per head via sacro-coccygeal epidural, and group B (control; n = 30) received 2 ml saline solution (0.9% NaCl) per head by the same route. Blood samples were immediately collected prior to administration (T0) and then 24 h (T1), 48 h (T2) and 8 days (T3) after administration of the treatment, for both groups. Ovarian vascularization was evaluated utilizing Power Doppler on these same days in 10 animals from each group. The number of pixels detected by Power Dopplerwas used as an indicator of the degree of vascularization. Results: Plasma renin concentrations remained relatively constant for the control (group B) animals, but increased as the sampling period progressed (NS) for the treated cows (group A). Similarly, therewere no changes in ovarian vascularization (number of pixels) for the control cows, but vascularization increased throughout the sampling period in the treated animals. The number of pixels associated with cysts was significantly higher for treated compared to control cows at 24 h after treatment (p