Pulse wave Doppler ultrasound of testicular arteries and their relationship with semen characteristics in healthy bulls  

作　　者：Alessia Gloria Augusto Carluccio Laura Wegher Domenico Robbe Claudio Valorz Alberto Contri 

机构地区：[1]Faculty of Veterinary Medicine,University of Teramo,LocalitàPiano D’Accio,64100 Teramo,Italy [2]Provincial Breeders Federation of Trento,Via delle Bettine 40,38121 Trento,Italy

出　　处：《Journal of Animal Science and Biotechnology》2018年第2期319-325,共7页畜牧与生物技术杂志（英文版）

基　　金：the Provincial Breeders Federation of Trento for their support

摘　　要：Background: Semen evaluation is used to estimate the testicular function. In bulls, the spermatozoa present in the ejaculate are the result of a process that begun more than 2 mo earlier, bequeathing a delayed depiction of the actual function of the testis. Since testis vascularization might be critical for the gonad function, selected pulse wave Doppler ultrasound parameters were assessed in this study, for instance the peak systolic velocity, the end diastolic velocity and the resistive index of the testicular artery along the spermatic cord, the marginal portion of the testicular artery and the intratesticular branches of the testicular artery both in healthy adult and young bulls.Correlations between these parameters and characteristics of semen that was collected numerous times, before and after the Doppler ultrasound examination.Results: The peak systolic velocity and the end diastolic velocity measured in the testicular artery along the spermatic cord(supratesticular artery – SA) were variable among the bulls and within individual bulls, likely due to the convoluted course of the vessel. The resistive index was found highly repeatable in the same bull. A reduction in the resistive index was found between the supratesticular artery and the marginal portion of the testicular artery(P < 0.01), and between the marginal portion of the testicular artery and the intratesticular branches of the testicular artery(P < 0.05). No differences were recorded for the pulse wave Doppler ultrasound parameters in young bulls compared with adults. A significant correlation was found between the resistive index of the marginal portion of the testicular artery and total sperm in the ejaculate(r = 0.516, P < 0.05), the immature sperm(r = 0.462, P < 0.05), the teratoid sperm(r = 0.375, P < 0.05), and the "Dag defect" sperm(r = 0.389, P < 0.05). Similarly, the resistive index of the intratesticular branches of the testicular artery were found correlated with the total sperm number in the ejaculate(r = 0.568, P < 0.05), the immatBackground: Semen evaluation is used to estimate the testicular function. In bulls, the spermatozoa present in the ejaculate are the result of a process that begun more than 2 mo earlier, bequeathing a delayed depiction of the actual function of the testis. Since testis vascularization might be critical for the gonad function, selected pulse wave Doppler ultrasound parameters were assessed in this study, for instance the peak systolic velocity, the end diastolic velocity and the resistive index of the testicular artery along the spermatic cord, the marginal portion of the testicular artery and the intratesticular branches of the testicular artery both in healthy adult and young bulls.Correlations between these parameters and characteristics of semen that was collected numerous times, before and after the Doppler ultrasound examination.Results: The peak systolic velocity and the end diastolic velocity measured in the testicular artery along the spermatic cord(supratesticular artery – SA) were variable among the bulls and within individual bulls, likely due to the convoluted course of the vessel. The resistive index was found highly repeatable in the same bull. A reduction in the resistive index was found between the supratesticular artery and the marginal portion of the testicular artery(P < 0.01), and between the marginal portion of the testicular artery and the intratesticular branches of the testicular artery(P < 0.05). No differences were recorded for the pulse wave Doppler ultrasound parameters in young bulls compared with adults. A significant correlation was found between the resistive index of the marginal portion of the testicular artery and total sperm in the ejaculate(r = 0.516, P < 0.05), the immature sperm(r = 0.462, P < 0.05), the teratoid sperm(r = 0.375, P < 0.05), and the "Dag defect" sperm(r = 0.389, P < 0.05). Similarly, the resistive index of the intratesticular branches of the testicular artery were found correlated with the total sperm number in the ejaculate(r = 0.568, P < 0.05), the immat

关 键 词：BULL Pulse wave Doppler SPERM morphology TESTIS Ultrasound 

分 类 号：S[农业科学]