ECHOBIOMETRIC AND DOPPLER STUDIES OF THE CANINE PROSTATE AND TESTES
Loading...
![Thumbnail Image](assets/images/Item.jpg)
Date
2021-07-30
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
COLLEGE OF VETERINARY AND ANIMAL SCIENCES MANNUTHY, THRISSUR
Abstract
Twenty dogs presented at the University Veterinary Hospitals, Mannuthy and
Kokkalai for breeding soundness evaluation (BSE) were selected for the study. These
animals were retrospectively grouped into fertile (Group I, n=6) and subfertile (Group
II, n=14) groups based on the BSE results and history. Comparison of results of semen
evaluation, testicular and prostatic echobiometry, Doppler ultrasound measurement of
testicular and prostatic arterial blood flow, serum T3, T4 and TSH and alkaline
phosphatase (ALP) in sperm-rich fraction of semen, were made between the two
groups. Subfertile dogs were either azoospermic or had oligozoospermia or
asthenozoospermia or teratozoospermia when compared to fertile dogs. On B-mode
ultrasonography there was no significant difference in testicular volume between the
two groups. The volume of left testis was 14606.86 ± 3128.06 mm3
and 11273.26 ±
2492.7 mm3
, respectively in Groups I and II, while the volume of right testis was
11807.94 ± 1820.79 mm3
and 9518.17 ± 1418.85 mm3
, respectively in Groups I and II.
The volume of the left testis was significantly higher than that of the right testis (p <
0.05). Volume of the testis was positively correlated with body weight. Doppler studies
of the supratesticular artery revealed that the peak systolic velocity (PSV) was
significantly lower (P<0.01) in the subfertile group with values of 14.21 ± 0.6 cm/s and
8.59 ± 0.82 cm/s for the left testis in the fertile and subfertile groups, respectively and
values of 12.94 ± 0.86 cm/s and 8.01 ± 1.09 cm/s for the right testis of the fertile group
and subfertile groups, respectively. A similar trend was noticed in the values of the end
diastolic volume (EDV) of supratesticular artery with values of 4.97 ± 0.28 cm/s and
3.12 ± 0.35 cm/s for the left testis of the fertile and subfertile groups, respectively and
values of 5.02 ± 0.32 cm/s and 3.04 ± 0.46 cm/s for the right testis of the fertile and
subfertile groups, respectively. The PSV of marginal artery was significantly lower
(p<0.01) in the subfertile group in both the testes, with values of 12.86 ± 0.64 and 7.79
± 0.64 cm/s for the left testis and 11.28 ± 0.77 and 8.41 ± 0.62 cm/s for the right testis,
respectively in the fertile and subfertile groups. The EDV of marginal artery was
significantly lower (P<0.01) in the subfertile group in both testes as evidenced by
values of 6.97 ± 0.47 cm/s and 4.30 ± 0.38 cm/s for the left testis of the fertile and
subfertile groups, respectively while those of the right testis was 5.92 ± 0.58 and 4.33
± 0.33 cm/s for the fertile and subfertile groups, respectively. There was no significant
difference in prostatic volume between the two groups as seen from the values of the
fertile group at 16019.54 ± 4899.05 mm3
and that of the subfertile group, at 13963.53
± 1729.27 mm3
. Pulsatality index (PI) of cranial prostatic artery of the two groups
showed significant difference (P<0.01) with values of 2.51±0.04 and 2.25 ± 0.09,
respectively in fertile and subfertile groups. Doppler indices of all other prostatic
arteries had no significant difference. PI values were negatively correlated (P<0.05)
and PSV was positively correlated (P<0.01) with volume of post-sperm fraction and
sperm concentration. There was significant difference (P<0.01) in the value of ALP
between the two groups (fertile: 168121.67 ± 22443.25 IU/L and subfertile:49605.86
± 12669.68 IU/L). There was no statistically significant difference in the values of the
thyroid function tests between the groups. The findings of the study demonstrate the
possible use of echobiometric and Doppler studies of the canine prostate and testes in
the critical evaluation of dogs with subfertility and the use of such tools in the design
of relevant treatment protocols.
Description
Thesis Submitted in the partial fulfillment of the requirement for the degree of Master of Veterinary Science in Animal Reproduction, Gynaecology and Obstetrics