Use of grayscale histogram to assess testicular changes in ram caused by heat stress

Because it detects discrete changes in tissue density, ultrasound allows an early diagnosis of physiologic changes, especially when dealing with subclinical changes. aimed to evaluate the use of quantitative analysis of the gray scale of ultrasound images of ovine testicles as a method for early diagnosis of testicular changes caused by heat stress. Testicles from ten ovine were insulated and then evaluated regarding echogenicity, echotexture, anatomical measurements, and seminal characteristics. Echogenicity was the first variable to show changes during the insulation period, as well as the first one to show evidence of regeneration of those changes. There was a correlation (p 0.05) in echotexture. Testicular measurements were only altered (p < 0.05) after insulation; however, the structural integrity of the seminiferous tubules was not altered. Echogenicity is an efficient ultrasound parameter for the early diagnosis of a testicular degenerative process as well as for the early diagnosis of its regeneration

Use of grayscale histogram to assess testicular changes in ram caused by heat stress

Because it detects discrete changes in tissue density, ultrasound allows an early diagnosis of physiologic changes, especially when dealing with subclinical changes. aimed to evaluate the use of quantitative analysis of the gray scale of ultrasound images of ovine testicles as a method for early diagnosis of testicular changes caused by heat stress. Testicles from ten ovine were insulated and then evaluated regarding echogenicity, echotexture, anatomical measurements, and seminal characteristics. Echogenicity was the first variable to show changes during the insulation period, as well as the first one to show evidence of regeneration of those changes. There was a correlation (p &lt; 0.05) between echogenicity and sperm vigor, motility, and mass sperm motility, as well as a correlation (p &lt; 0.05) between echotexture and motility. Echogenicity, motility, vigor, and mass sperm motility decreased (p &lt; 0.05) within four days of testicular insulation, and there was no change (p &gt; 0.05) in echotexture. Testicular measurements were only altered (p &lt; 0.05) after insulation; however, the structural integrity of the seminiferous tubules was not altered. Echogenicity is an efficient ultrasound parameter for the early diagnosis of a testicular degenerative process as well as for the early diagnosis of its regeneration.Because it detects discrete changes in tissue density, ultrasound allows an early diagnosis of physiologic changes, especially when dealing with sub-clinical changes. The study aimed to evaluate the use of quantitative analysis of the grayscale of ultrasound images of ovine testicles as a method for early diagnosis of testicular changes caused by heat stress. Testicles from ten rams were insulated and then evaluated regarding echogenicity, echotexture, anatomical measurements, and seminal characteristics. Echogenicity was the first variable to show changes during the insulation period, as well as the first one to show evidence of regeneration of those changes. There was a correlation (p &lt; 0.05) between echogenicity and sperm vigor, sperm motility, and mass sperm motility, as well as a correlation (p &lt; 0.05) between echotexture and motility. Echogenicity, sperm motility, vigor, and mass sperm motility decreased (p &lt; 0.05) within four days of testicular insulation, and there was no change (p &gt; 0.05) in echotexture. Testicular measurements were only altered (p &lt; 0.05) after insulation. Echogenicity is an efficient ultrasound parameter for the early diagnosis of a testicular degenerative process as well as for the early diagnosis of its regeneration

Ultrassonografia quantitativa da degeneração testicular induzida em ovinos

Nesta Tese, constituída de dois experimentos, avaliou-se a eficiência da ultrassonografia com a técnica de histograma da escala de cinza em diferentes processos de degeneração testicular em ovinos. O Primeiro Experimento foi conduzido objetivando-se acompanhar a progressão da degeneração isquêmica testicular induzida com intuito de validar as análises de padrões de ecogenicidade e ecotextura, avaliando-se também o perímetro escrotal e o volume testicular. Os machos (n=6), com idade 11 e 18 meses foram submetidos a análise de biometria testicular com obtenção do perímetro escrotal e volume testicular, e aquisição de imagens ultrassonográficas foram realizadas para determinação de valores de ecogenicidade e ecotextura no software GIMP 2.8® para determinação de padrões pré isquemia. As aferições desses parâmetros foram realizadas antes da isquemia mecânica induzida com burdizzo (D0) e nos dias 1 (D1), 4 (D4), 8 (D8), 16 (D16), 24 (D24), 35 (D35) e 50 (D50). O valor da ecogenicidade no testículo hígido foi de 105,01 ± 8,23 e o da ecotextura pela variação do eco foi de 13,24 ± 0,88. O comportamento da ecogenicidade, representado pelo valor numérico de pixel, mostrou que o impedimento mecânico da irrigação testicular exerceu influência (P 0,05). O comportamento do valor numérico da ecotextura que inicialmente foi 13,24±0,88, mostrou que somente a partir do D4 ocorreu aumento (P 0,05). Ecogenicidade demonstrou uma precocidade com relação aos outros parâmetros no retorno aos padrões definidos no período pré-insulação. Conclui-se portanto que a indução do estresse térmico caracterizou com redução da biometria testicular, declínio na qualidade seminal e diminuição da intensidade pixel na imagem ultrassonográfica, esta última sendo um parâmetro sensível tanto na fase aguda em conjunto a com motilidade, vigor e turbilhonamento quanto na recuperação testicular, mostrando-se mais precocemente que outros parâmetros.In this thesis, made up of two experiments, in different processes of testicular degeneration in rams it was evaluated the efficiency of ultrasonography with the grayscale histogram technique. The First Experiment was carried out with the aim of monitoring the progression of induced ischemic degeneration validate analyzes of echogenicity and ecotexture patterns, also evaluating the scrotal perimeter and testicular volume. The males (n = 6), aged 11 and 18 months, underwent testicular biometry analysis to obtain the scrotal and testicular volume, and acquisition of ultrasound images were performed to determine echogenicity and echotexture values in the GIMP software 2.8® for determination of pre-ischemia patterns. The measurements of these parameters were performed before mechanical ischemia induced with burdizzo (D0) and on days 1 (D1), 4 (D4), 8 (D8), 16 (D16), 24 (D24), 35 (D35) and 50 (D50). The value of echogenicity in the healthy testicle was 105.01 ± 8.23 and that of the ecotexture by echo variation was 13.24 ± 0.88. The behavior of the echogenicity, represented by the numerical value of the pixel, showed that the mechanical impedance of the testicular irrigation exerted influence (P 0.05). The behavior of the numerical value of the ecotexture, which was initially 13.24 ± 0.88, showed that only from the D4, there was an increase (P 0.05) without variation in the ecotexture. Ecogenicity showed a precocity with respect to the other parameters in return to the standards defined in the preinsulation period. It was concluded that the induction of thermal stress was characterized by a reduction of testicular biometry, a decline in seminal quality and a decrease in pixel intensity in the ultrasound image, the latter being a sensitive parameter both in the acute phase together with motility, vigor and turbulence, and Testicular recovery, showing itself earlier than other parameters

Effect of flunixin meglumine, recombinant bovine somatotropin and synchronization of recipients on pregnancy rates of bovine embryos produced in vitro

A variabilidade do sucesso das transferências de embriões produzidos in vitro ainda é um dos entraves para sua expansão, onde alguns dos problemas são relacionados à mortalidade embrionária precoce. O objetivo com estes trabalhos foi avaliar a aplicação da flunixina meglumina e da somatotropina recombinante bovina e observar o efeito de algumas variáveis como grau de desenvolvimento do embrião, sincronia do embrião com a receptora e classificação do corpo lúteo da receptora no momento da transferência sobre a taxa de prenhez. No experimento I foram utilizadas 55 novilhas receptoras de embrião agrupadas aleatoriamente: G1 grupo controle (n=15animais); G2 grupo que recebeu 500mg de somatotropina recombinante bovina/animal/por via subcutâneo (n=20 animais) e G3 grupo 500mg de flunixina meglumina/animal/via intramuscular (n=20 animais). As taxas de prenhez para os grupos foram G1 53,33% (8/15), G2 60% (12/20), G3 55% (11/20) não havendo diferença significativa entre os grupos (P>0,05). No experimento II foram utilizadas 134 novilhas como receptoras de embriões produzidos in vitro. A taxa de prenhez foi avaliada segundo grau de desenvolvimento da estrutura transferida, sincronia do embrião com a receptora e a classificação corpo lúteo. Embriões desenvolvidos (Blastocisto, Blastocisto expandido) apresentaram melhores índices de prenhez que embriões jovens (Mórula, Blastocisto inicial), 57,14% e 25% respectivamente (P0,05). Nas condições deste experimento a aplicação da flunixina meglumina e da somatotropina recombinantes bovina não foi eficiente para aumentar a taxa de prenhez, porém deve-se atentar que a taxa de prenhez foi dependente do grau de desenvolvimento do embrião e sincronia da receptora com o embrião.The variability of successful transfers of embryos produced in vitro is still one of the obstacle to its expansion, where some of the problems are related to early embryonic mortality. The aim of this work was to evaluate the application of flunixin meglumine and recombinant bovine somatotropin and observe the effect of variables such as embryonic development, embryo synchrony with the recipient, corpus luteum size at the time of transfer and pregnancy rate. In the first experiment 55 recipient heifers were randomly in the three different groups: G1 control group (n=15 animals); G2 group receiving 500mg of recombinant bovine somatotropin (bST)/animal/subcutaneous (n=20 animals) and G3 group receiving 500mg flunixin meglumine/animal/intramuscular (n=20 animals). Pregnancy rates for G1 53,33% (8/15), G2 60% (12/20), G3 55% (11/20) with no statistically significant difference between groups (P> 0,05). In experiment II 134 heifers were used as recipients of embryos produced in vitro. The pregnancy rate was evaluated according to the degree of development of the structure transferred embryo synchrony with the receiver, and corpus luteum size. Embryos (blastocyst, expanded blastocyst, ecloded blastocyst) showed better pregnancy rates than less development younger embryos (morula, early blastocyst), 57,14% and 25% respectively (P 0,05). In conclusion, under experiment conditions described, the application of flunixin meglumine, recombinant bovine somatotropin and was not efficient to increase the pregnancy rate, but it is note that the pregnancy rate varied in the degree of development of the embryo and the embryo synchrony with the recipient

Male effect associated with suckling interruption on the reproductive performance of Santa Inês ewes

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of temporary suckling interruption associated with the male effect on reproductive performance of pluriparous Santa Inês ewes. The females were kept apart from the males for 60 days and then randomly distributed into three treatments associated with the male effect (DT0, DT24 and DT48); in DT0, there was no suckling interruption; in DT24, suckling was interrupted for 24 hours, and in DT48, sucking was interrupted for 48 hours. Estrous distribution was observed within 31 (DT0), 27 (DT24) and 38 (DT48) days of the breeding season. Estrous synchronization up to the 5th day of the mating season was observed in 15% (DT0), 30% (DT24) and 25% (DT48) of the females, with no difference among treatments. Estrous percentages were 90% (DT0), 100% (DT24) and 100% (DT48), with no difference among treatments. Pregnancy rates were 38.4% (DT0), 60.0% (DT24) and 45.0% (DT48) with no difference among treatments. Prolificacy was 1.43 (DT0), 1.17 (DT24) and 1.22 (DT48) and did not differ between treatments. In conclusion, temporary suckling interruption associated with the male effect is efficient to induce estrous but not to synchronize estrous or increase the pregnancy rates and prolificacy of Santa Inês ewes during a 45-day breeding season.</span