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

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...

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Main Authors: Moxon, Rachel, Bright, Lucy, Pritchard, Beth, Bowen, I. Mark, Souza, Mírley Barbosa de, Silva, Lúcia Daniel Machado da, England, Gary C.W.
Format: Article
Published: Elsevier 2015
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Online Access:https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/38918/
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author Moxon, Rachel
Bright, Lucy
Pritchard, Beth
Bowen, I. Mark
Souza, Mírley Barbosa de
Silva, Lúcia Daniel Machado da
England, Gary C.W.
author_facet Moxon, Rachel
Bright, Lucy
Pritchard, Beth
Bowen, I. Mark
Souza, Mírley Barbosa de
Silva, Lúcia Daniel Machado da
England, Gary C.W.
author_sort Moxon, Rachel
building Nottingham Research Data Repository
collection Online Access
description 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.
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spelling nottingham-389182020-05-04T20:07:25Z https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/38918/ 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. 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. Elsevier 2015-09 Article PeerReviewed Moxon, Rachel, Bright, Lucy, Pritchard, Beth, Bowen, I. Mark, Souza, Mírley Barbosa de, Silva, Lúcia Daniel Machado da and England, Gary C.W. (2015) Digital image analysis of testicular and prostatic ultrasonographic echogencity and heterogeneity in dogs and the relation to semen quality. Animal Reproduction Science, 160 . pp. 112-119. ISSN 1873-2232 Canine; Testes; Prostate; Semen quality; Ultrasound http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378432015001797 doi:10.1016/j.anireprosci.2015.07.012 doi:10.1016/j.anireprosci.2015.07.012
spellingShingle Canine; Testes; Prostate; Semen quality; Ultrasound
Moxon, Rachel
Bright, Lucy
Pritchard, Beth
Bowen, I. Mark
Souza, Mírley Barbosa de
Silva, Lúcia Daniel Machado da
England, Gary C.W.
Digital image analysis of testicular and prostatic ultrasonographic echogencity and heterogeneity in dogs and the relation to semen quality
title Digital image analysis of testicular and prostatic ultrasonographic echogencity and heterogeneity in dogs and the relation to semen quality
title_full Digital image analysis of testicular and prostatic ultrasonographic echogencity and heterogeneity in dogs and the relation to semen quality
title_fullStr Digital image analysis of testicular and prostatic ultrasonographic echogencity and heterogeneity in dogs and the relation to semen quality
title_full_unstemmed Digital image analysis of testicular and prostatic ultrasonographic echogencity and heterogeneity in dogs and the relation to semen quality
title_short Digital image analysis of testicular and prostatic ultrasonographic echogencity and heterogeneity in dogs and the relation to semen quality
title_sort digital image analysis of testicular and prostatic ultrasonographic echogencity and heterogeneity in dogs and the relation to semen quality
topic Canine; Testes; Prostate; Semen quality; Ultrasound
url https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/38918/
https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/38918/
https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/38918/