Ovarian compensatory hypertrophy following unilateral ovariectomy in hysterectomized and early pregnant gilts

Compensatory Ovarian Hypertrophy after Unilateral Oophorectomy: Evaluation of Ovarian Volumes in Pediatric and Adolescent Populations

STUDY OBJECTIVE

Limited data exist on the morphologic and physiologic effect on the remaining ovary after unilateral oophorectomy, especially in the pediatric population. Our aim is to evaluate ovarian volumes following unilateral oophorectomy to determine whether compensatory ovarian hypertrophy occurs in the remaining contralateral ovary.

DESIGN

This was a retrospective chart review of ovarian volume measured on ultrasounds that were completed after unilateral oophorectomy. Postoperative ovarian volumes were compared to established radiologic standards.

SETTING

Large tertiary care academic children's hospital in Atlanta, GA.

PARTICIPANTS

Female patients less than 21 years old who underwent unilateral oophorectomy.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Ovarian volumes measured on postoperative ultrasounds.

RESULTS

A total of 93 patients met inclusion criteria for this study. Serial ultrasounds were performed in slightly more than half of the patients (n = 48, 51.6%), totaling 193 postoperative ovarian volumes. The average age of oophorectomy was 10.8 years. Prior to surgery, the majority of patients presented with abdominal pain (n = 51, 54.8%) or pelvic mass (n = 51, 54.8%), and most (n = 77, 82.8%) had benign final pathology. Ovarian volumes were compared to 4 published radiologic ultrasound standards. More than 62.2% of ovarian volumes from girls who had previously had unilateral oophorectomy were larger than age-matched standard ovarian volumes.

CONCLUSION

Ovarian enlargement occurs in the contralateral ovary following unilateral oophorectomy in the pediatric and adolescent population. This supports the concept of compensatory ovarian hypertrophy. This knowledge provides valuable information for interpretation of radiologic images in young female individuals who have undergone oophorectomy, and can assist with counseling on the risk of adnexal complications due to ovarian hypertrophy after unilateral oophorectomy.

Effect of recombinant porcine somatotropin on fetal and placental growth in gilts with reduced uterine capacity

Crowded uterine conditions were induced by unilateral hysterectomy-ovariectomy (UHO) in 42 gilts to determine the effect of recombinant porcine somatotropin on fetal and placental growth. Gilts were randomly assigned across three replicates to one of three treatments: Control (C; n = 14), daily injections of 1 mL saline from d 0 to 64 of gestation, Early (E; n = 12), 5 mg of rpST/d from d 0 to 30, followed by 1 mL saline from d 31 to 64, and Late (L; n = 16), 1 mL saline/d from d 0 to 29, followed by 5 mg of rpST/d from d 30 to 64 of gestation. Blood was collected from each gilt via jugular venipuncture at d 0 and every 15 d thereafter. Gilts were hysterectomized on d 65 of gestation. Length of placental attachment and fetal crown-rump length were measured. Placentas and fetuses were weighed. Placental length, wet weight, and dry weight were recorded. Treatment with rpST (either E or L) increased (P < 0.0001) maternal plasma IGF-I concentrations relative to controls. Treatment with rpST did not affect placental wet weight or placental DNA content. However, E and L treatments increased the percentage of placental protein (P = 0.01) and placental dry matter (P = 0.10) and increased contact area of uterine-placental interface (P = 0.01). Despite changes in placental composition and morphology, weights of fetuses collected from L-treated gilts did not differ from controls, whereas weights of fetuses collected from E-treated gilts tended to be less than controls (P < 0.06). Administration of rpST increased maternal IGF-I concentrations and placental surface area but failed to increase fetal growth in the UHO model. Therefore, mechanisms that are independent of maternal IGF-I or placental contact area may control early fetal growth under crowded uterine conditions.