الفهرس 
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Abstract
housed free living in large yards with adequate shelter, nutrition and water supply.Cows were divided randomly into 2 main groups.The first main group comprised of fourteen normal cycling cows with a history of normal parturition and puerperium with known day of insemination. These cows were subdivided into two subgroups; Subgroup-A : include 8 normal non-pregnant cows.Subgroup-B: included 6 pregnant cows. The second main group comprised of fourty six cows with a history of reproductive disorder (infertile cows). These animals were subdivided into two subgroups.Subgroup-A: included 21 cows with a history of anestrum.Subgroup-B: included 25 cows with a history of repeat breeding. Blood sample were collected from the juglar vein of animals prior to their examination for progesterone assay.The obtained data were statistically analysed to illustrate the results.
The ultrasonographic imaging of the ovary of normal cycling cows showed the ovarian tissue with varying echogenecity due to the presence of different ovarian structures including follicles and corpora lutea. The ovarian follicles appeared as a central anechoic antrum surrounded by a very thin ill identified hyperechoic follicular wall.The mean diameter of small, medium and large follicles was 3.89±0.10 mm,6.85±0.13 mm and 13.37±0.36 mm, respectively.The corpus luteum appeared as an oval, granular and hypoechoic structure with or without central cavity. The
mean diameter of large, medium and small size corpora lutea was 23.35+0.48mm, 15.85±0.54mm and 9.15±0.15mm, respectively. During the follicular phase the mean diameter of follicles was significantly (p<0.01) larger than that during the luteal phase, and the mean diameter of corpus luteum during the luteal phase was significantly (p<0.01) larger than that during the follicular phase and vis versa.
ultrasonographic image of the uterus during the estrous cycle revealed heterogenous uterine echotexture during the follicular phase and homogenous during the luteal phase.The cervix imaged as a hyperechoic structure that runs parallel to the longitudinal axis of the body with a hypoechoic zigzag lumen.The vagina took the appearance of anechoic lumen surrounded by dorsal and ventral hyperechoic vaginal walls.
Early pregnancy diagnosis could be perfomed ultrasonographically by detection of embryonic vesicle in the uterine horn ipsilateral to the ovary containing the corpus luteum. At 11-15day post insemination the embryonic vesicle was firstly detected at the tip of the uterine horn. The embryonic vesicle was imaged as a round strucure (3 mm in diameter) with anechoic lumen surrounded by a thick hyperechoic wall. With the advancement of the gestation (20-21 days) the embryonic vesicle became enlarged, elongated to occupy the uterine horn with bulging of the embryo at one pole of the vesicle. At the beginning of organogenesis stage (23-27 days), the embryo was firstly observed as a hyperechoic mass inside the lumen of embryonic vesicle surrounded by anechoic fetal fluids.
For determination of fetal age, different measurements were performed including crown rump length (CRL) and bovine brain diameter (BBD).The CRL of the fetus was 11.5, 18.0 , 34.9, 41.3, 50.0 and 57.5 mm at 33, 38, 48, 51, 55 and 59 days of intera-uterine fetal ages, respectively.The BBD was 18.3, 21.7, 23.0, 23.7 and 30.6 mm at 62, 68, 70, 72 and 85 days of pregnancy, respectively .
Ultrasonographic imaging of inactive ovaries showed them small in
size (1.73-2.43mm), the cortex appeared hyperechoic devoid of any
strucures and was well demarcated from the hypoechoic medulla.
Follicular cysts were viewed as a large anechoic (black) antrum more
than 25 mm in diameter surrounded by a thin hyperechoic wall. Cystic
corpora lutea showed a large hypoechoic strucure with a central anechoic fluid filled cavity and their size more than 30mm in diameter.
Ultrasonographic examination of mild degree of endometritis revealed a mild thickening of endometrium and segmental accumulation of anechoic fluid within the the uterine lumen. Severe endometritis was characterized by a thickening of endometrium and widespread accumulation of uterine fluid inside the uterus.Metritis was characterized by a generalized inflammation involved all layers of uterine wall which appeared more echogenic than normal with accumulation of hypoechoic uterine fluid within the uterine lumen. Pyometra characterized by a great distention of the uterine lumen with pus which contain hypoechoic particles in continous motion (snow storm). Early mbryonic death was characterized by a small sized uterus, folding and collapse of the embryonic vesicle, and with an increase in the echogenicity of the fluid surrounding the vesicle.Mummified fetus was visible as an ill identified hyperechoic mass present within the uterine lumen and sticked to the thick uterine wall.Ultrasonographic examination of inflammed cervix (cervicitis) showed an increase in the thickness and echogenicity of cervical rings with ill identified hypoechoic lumen. Cervical cyst appeared as a round shape structure bulged from the cervical wall and was characterized by a hyperechoic wall surrounding anechoic lumen. Ultrasonographic examination of vaginitis showed a thicking of the vaginal wall and an accumulation of hypoechoic fluid conataining echogenic particles.
The mean level of serum progesterone in normal cycling cows showed an increasement(1.560+0.161ng/m1) during the luteal phase in comparison to the follicular phase (0.326+0.161 ng/ml)of the estrous cycle .During the 2nd and 3rd months of gestation the mean level of progeterone was 2.658+0.443 ng/ml and significantly increased when compared with that of follicular and luteal phase of normal cycling animals. The minimum level of serum progesterone was estimated in cases with inactive ovaries (0.025±0.011 ng/ml) and follicular cysts (0.577+0.061 ng/ml) and the high concentration of serum progeterone was estimated in cows with cystic corpora lutea (1.826±0.245 ng/ml). Mild endometritis revealed lower level of serum progesterone (0.484±0.304ng/m1). Meanwhile, high concentration was recorded in case of sever endometritis (1.151+0.330 ng/ml) and pyometra (1.433+0.265 ng/ml). CONCLUSIONS : from the present study, it could be concluded that ultrasonographic examination in combination with progesterone assay could be used as a routine work for confirmative differential diagnosis of infertility problems in cattle herds.