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Canine reproductive ultrasound examination for predicting future sperm quality

England, Gary C.W.; Bright, L.; Pritchard, B.; Bowen, I. Mark; De Souza, M.; Silva, L.D.M.; Moxon, Rachel

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Authors

GARY ENGLAND gary.england@nottingham.ac.uk
Foundation Dean & Prof Comparative Veterinary Reproduction

L. Bright

B. Pritchard

I. Mark Bowen

M. De Souza

L.D.M. Silva

Rachel Moxon



Abstract

The reproductive potential of male animals is commonly evaluated using a breeding soundness examination incorporating B-mode ultrasound examination of the testes and recently Doppler ultrasound examination of the testicular arteries. These techniques may detect testicular normality or pathology, and while some measured parameters are associated with semen quality at the time of ultrasound examination, few studies have investigated the relationship with future semen quality. We hypothesized that B-mode and Doppler ultrasound measurements would correlate with future semen quality. Within two studies, we investigated the relationship between ultrasound measured testicular volume, testicular echogenicity, testicular homogeneity, subjective assessment of the testicular parenchyma, testicular artery resistance index, and pulsatility index with subsequent semen quality. Fifty-five normal fertile dogs of which 29 had stable semen quality and 26 had a subsequent decline in semen quality were examined during a 6-month period commencing 62 days after the ultrasound examination. Statistical analysis showed that no ultrasound parameters were predictive of future total sperm output or percentage live normal sperm. However, mean testicular echogenicity was positively related to future sperm motility (t = 2.202, p = .039). We conclude that quantitative ultrasound assessment of the appearance of the testicular parenchyma has potential for the evaluation of future semen quality in dogs.

Citation

England, G. C., Bright, L., Pritchard, B., Bowen, I. M., De Souza, M., Silva, L., & Moxon, R. (in press). Canine reproductive ultrasound examination for predicting future sperm quality. Reproduction in Domestic Animals, 51(Supp.3), https://doi.org/10.1111/rda.12825

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Nov 3, 2016
Online Publication Date Nov 3, 2016
Deposit Date Nov 16, 2016
Publicly Available Date Mar 28, 2024
Journal Reproduction in Domestic Animals
Print ISSN 0936-6768
Electronic ISSN 1439-0531
Publisher Wiley
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 51
Issue Supp.3
DOI https://doi.org/10.1111/rda.12825
Keywords B-mode, Doppler, Ultrasound, Dog, Sperm Motility, Fertility
Public URL https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/830146
Publisher URL http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/rda.12825/full
Additional Information This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: England, G., Bright, L., Pritchard, B., Bowen, I., de Souza, M., Silva, L. and Moxon, R. (2016), Canine reproductive ultrasound examination for predicting future sperm quality. Reprod Dom Anim. doi:10.1111/rda.12825], which has been published in final form at http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/rda.12825/full This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Self-Archiving.

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