The prolonged, gonadotoxic effect of chemotherapy can finally lead to infertility in female cancer survivors. There is controversial evidence regarding the protective role of gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogue (GnRH-a) on chemotherapy-induced ovarian damage. In the present study on a murine model, ultrasound (US) and contrast-enhanced US (CEUS) were firstly used to characterise ovarian glands in normal conditions to validate a preclinical model. In addition, preliminary findings were obtained on anatomical and vascular ovarian changes induced by GnRH-a based on decapeptyl administration. Ovaries were accurately assessed with US and CEUS in a murine model placed in prone position, providing quantitative and reproducible information. Ovaries were identified in 40/40 cases and CEUS analysis was successfully performed in 20/20 cases with 100% technical success. A statistically significant increase of the diameter of the dominant follicle at US and a statistically significant reduced vascularisation at CEUS in decapeptyl-treated mice compared to untreated control mice were recorded. Further studies using US and CEUS in the murine model combining GnRH-a and chemotherapeutic agents will be needed to obtain more translational information useful for clinical practice.

中文翻译：

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对比超声在小鼠模型中的卵巢评估：促性腺激素释放激素类似物对化疗诱导的卵巢损伤的保护作用的初步发现。

化学疗法的长期，性腺毒性作用最终可导致女性癌症幸存者不育。关于促性腺激素释放激素类似物（GnRH-a）对化学疗法诱发的卵巢损伤的保护作用，有争议的证据。在目前的鼠模型研究中，首先使用超声（US）和对比增强型US（CEUS）来表征正常条件下的卵巢腺，以验证临床前模型。此外，在基于十肽的基础上，GnRH-a诱导的卵巢和卵巢的解剖和血管变化也得到了初步的发现。使用US和CEUS在俯卧位鼠模型中准确评估卵巢，可提供定量和可重复的信息。在40/40例病例中发现了卵巢，在20/20例病例中成功进行了CEUS分析，技术成功率为100％。与未处理的对照小鼠相比，经十肽基处理的小鼠在US的优势卵泡直径的统计上显着增加，而在CEUS处的血管化在统计学上显着减少。需要进一步研究在结合了GnRH-a和化学治疗剂的鼠模型中使用US和CEUS，以获得更多可用于临床实践的翻译信息。