A Contrast Radiographic Study of Uterus in Normal Bitches

Abstract

By the way of infusion with contrast medium (Endografin (R)) through the cervix into the uterus with a balloon or metal catheter, a contrast radiograph could be obtained easily frombitches in the proestrous-estrous or postpartum stage, because their cervix were opened. In bitches in the anestrous or diestrous stage the infusion was achieved by injection with the contrast medium into the uterus directly by laparotomy, because their cervix were closed tightly.
In proestrus-estrus, the uterus was the longest of all the stages and widerthan in anestrus. Moreover, it showed many large curves. In diestrus, the shape of the uterus was like spiral spring, cork screw or drill.
The contrast radiograph in anestrus showed the uterus narrow in width and straight slender in shape. The movement of the uteruswas not remarkable. In postpartum, the uterus showed various shapes according to the repairing process after delivery. The endometrial outline presented numerous laminated folds inthe early stage, many indentations in the middle stage, gradual diminution in the entire volume of the uterus and a relatively smooth surface in the last stage of the repairing process.