Digital image analysis of testicular and prostatic ultrasonographic echogencity and heterogeneity in dogs and the relation to semen quality

Moxon, Rachel; Bright, Lucy; Pritchard, Beth; Bowen, I. Mark; Souza, Mírley Barbosa de; Silva, Lúcia Daniel Machado da; England, Gary C.W.

Abstract

A semi-automated ultrasonographic method was developed to measure echogenicity and heterogeneity of the testes and prostate gland and relationships of these measures with semen quality were assessed in 43 fertile dogs. The relationship between animal age and body weight upon the volume of the testes, epididymal tail volume and prostate volume were also established.

Mean testicular echogenicity was negatively correlated with the percentage of morphologically normal live spermatozoa (more echogenic testes were associated with fewer normal sperm) but not with any other semen quality measure. Mean testicular heterogeneity was positively correlated with the total spermatozoal output (more heterogenous testes, being those with anechoic parenchyma and prominent echogenic stippling, were associated with greater sperm output) but not with any other semen quality measure. There was no relationship between either mean prostatic echogenicity or mean prostatic heterogeneity and any semen quality measure.

There was no relationship between age and any testicular or prostatic parameter; however bodyweight was significantly correlated with total testicular volume, total epididymal tail volume and total prostatic volume.

Testicular and prostatic ultrasonographic echogenicity and heterogeneity can be objectively assessed using digital image analysis and testicular echogenicity and heterogeneity may be useful adjunct measurements in a breeding soundness examination.

Citation

Moxon, R., Bright, L., Pritchard, B., Bowen, I. M., Souza, M. B. D., Silva, L. D. M. D., & England, G. C. (2015). Digital image analysis of testicular and prostatic ultrasonographic echogencity and heterogeneity in dogs and the relation to semen quality. Animal Reproduction Science, 160, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anireprosci.2015.07.012

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jul 31, 2015
• Online Publication Date: Aug 5, 2015
• Publication Date: Sep 1, 2015
• Deposit Date: Nov 23, 2016
• Publicly Available Date: Nov 23, 2016
• Journal: Animal Reproduction Science
• Print ISSN: 0378-4320
• Electronic ISSN: 1873-2232
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 160
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anireprosci.2015.07.012
• Keywords: Canine; Testes; Prostate; Semen quality; Ultrasound
• Public URL: http://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/id/eprint/38918
• Publisher URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378432015001797
• Copyright Statement: Copyright information regarding this work can be found at the following address: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0