Synchrotron Imaging of Human Ovaries Ex Situ

Ultrasonography is currently the most common diagnostic tool for imaging the female reproductive tissues. However, clinical ultrasonography is limited to the detection of ovarian structures ≥ 2 mm, with an inability to image microanatomy including small antral follicles and oocytes. The objective of this study is to determine whether the synchrotron can be used to effectively image bovine and human ovaries ex situ. We hypothesize that synchrotron imaging will provide greater resolution and thereby allow the detection of fine structural details of the ovary compared to conventional ultrasonography. Ovaries will be imaged using conventional ultrasonography, synchrotron and histology. We anticipate that our results will provide important information about ovarian physiology which can be applied to the study of female reproductive dysfunctions.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Abnormal Female Reproductive Function

Detailed Description

The objective of our research is to determine whether the synchrotron is an effective tool for imaging human ovaries ex situ. Approximately 1 in every 6 women in Canada is affected by infertility; however, the underlying causes remain largely unknown. Imaging techniques are essential for increasing our understanding of normal and abnormal female reproductive biology. At present, ultrasonography is the most commonly-used tool to image human ovaries. However, ultrasonography only allows the detection of structures ≥ 2 mm in size within the ovaries, limiting the ability to detect smaller anatomic details (eg. the eggs and the surrounding cells and 'follicles' or the small fluid filled sacs that contain the eggs). Other limitations of ultrasonography for imaging the ovaries include a limited depth of penetration within the pelvis and the inability to see the ovaries clearly due to bowel activity and/or gas.

The synchrotron has been effectively used for imaging soft tissues, including the breast, heart and lungs. We hypothesize that the synchrotron will provide greater resolution for imaging the ovaries compared to conventional ultrasonography. Specifically, we anticipate that synchrotron imaging will provide greater structural details of the ovaries (including small follicles <2 mm and eggs) compared to conventional ultrasonography.

The study will consist of three different phases listed below:

• Phase 1 - Imaging of 10 fresh and preserved bovine ovaries
• Phase 2 - Imaging of 5 preserved human ovaries from the Department of Pathology
• Phase 3 - Imaging of 2-4 fresh human ovaries from women having their ovaries surgically removed

The initial imaging of bovine ovaries will help us determine the best synchrotron settings to image the human samples. All ovaries will be preserved using formaldehyde. In all 3 study phases, ovarian specimens will be imaged first with 2D and 3D ultrasonography and then with the Biomedical Imaging and Therapy Beamline (BMIT) at the Canadian Light Source. Furthermore, histologic sections of structures of interest within the ovaries will be made, and digital images will be acquired.

We believe that synchrotron imaging of human ovaries ex situ will be an important first step to develop future high-resolution tools for imaging reproductive tissues in situ.

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Actual): 10

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Canada
  • Saskatchewan
    • Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada, S7N 0W8
      • University of Saskatchewan, Canadian Light Source

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 20 years to 65 years (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Genders Eligible for Study: Female

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Patients in the Saskatoon Health Region

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• women undergoing unilateral/bilateral oophorectomy at Saskatoon City Hospital or Royal University Hospital between May - August 2012

Exclusion Criteria:

• none

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Number of groups / cohorts

2

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort
Preserved ovaries; Ovaries or ovarian segments that have been fixed in 10% Formalin
Fresh/non-preserved ovaries; Ovaries that have been surgically removed and placed in sterile saline

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Follicular counts	total number of antral ovarian follicles will be counted in the ultrasonographic and synchrotron images	July-Aug 2012

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Diameter measurements	The diameters of ovarian follicles, cell layers of the follicle wall, corpora lutea, and cumulus oocyte complexes will be measured using ultrasonographic, synchrotron and histologic images	July-Aug 2012
Microanatomy of ovarian tissues	Qualitative and quantitative evaluations of ovarian microanatomy using histology. Histological evaluations will be compared with synchrotron images.	July -Aug 2013

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University of Saskatchewan
• Collaborators: Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Singh J, Adams GP, Pierson RA. Promise of new imaging technologies for assessing ovarian function. Anim Reprod Sci. 2003 Oct 15;78(3-4):371-99. doi: 10.1016/s0378-4320(03)00100-3.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start: August 1, 2011
• Primary Completion (Actual): June 1, 2012
• Study Completion (Actual): June 1, 2013

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: June 27, 2012
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: June 27, 2012
• First Posted (Estimate): June 29, 2012

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Estimate): September 22, 2014
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: September 19, 2014
• Last Verified: September 1, 2014

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Imaging; Ultrasonography; Histology; Ovaries; Synchrotron
• Other Study ID Numbers: CIHR-THRUST-ARB-001