Department of Biomedical Sciences, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada.
Exp Biol Med (Maywood). 2012 Feb;237(2):186-93. doi: 10.1258/ebm.2011.011050. Epub 2012 Feb 2.
Breeding soundness evaluation (BSE) is the primary assessment for determining the reproductive potential of male animals. This method, however, cannot be used to evaluate semen frequently or to predict future semen quality. Computerized analysis of ultrasonographic images provides information on histophysiological changes in male reproductive organs. We hypothesized that: (i) semen parameters would correlate with ultrasonographic characteristics of the distal region (cauda) of the epididymis and (ii) testicular ultrasound images and/or circulating testosterone concentration would predict future semen quality in the ram. Six adult rams underwent BSE and scrotal ultrasonography approximately 60 d apart (average duration of the spermatogenic cycle) both during the breeding (December and February) and non-breeding (June and August) seasons. An inverse correlation was found between pixel intensity (numerical pixel values) of the epididymes and percentage of sperm in semen with normal morphology (r = -0.46, P < 0.05). Pixel heterogeneity (standard deviation of pixel values) correlated negatively with percentage of sperm with normal morphology (r = -0.42, P < 0.05) and directly with percentage of spermatozoa with abnormal tails (r = 0.43, P < 0.05). Pixel heterogeneity of testicular parenchyma obtained approximately 60 d prior to semen evaluation inversely correlated with percentage of sperm with normal morphology (r = -0.73, P < 0.01) and sperm progressive motility (r = -0.76, P < 0.01), and directly with percentage of sperm with abnormal tails (r = 0.72, P < 0.01) and loose heads (r = 0.79, P < 0.01). We concluded that scrotal ultrasonography combined with computer-assisted analyses of epididymal and testicular echotexture in the ram was a valuable method for determining certain current and future semen parameters, respectively.
精液健全度评估（BSE）是评估雄性动物生殖潜力的主要方法。然而，这种方法不能频繁地评估精液，也不能预测未来的精液质量。通过计算机对超声图像进行分析，可以提供有关雄性生殖器官组织生理学变化的信息。我们假设：（i）精液参数与附睾尾部（尾部）的超声特征相关；（ii）睾丸超声图像和/或循环睾酮浓度可以预测公羊未来的精液质量。6 只成年公羊在繁殖期（12 月和 2 月）和非繁殖期（6 月和 8 月）分别进行了 BSE 和阴囊超声检查，两次检查间隔约 60 天（精子发生周期的平均持续时间）。发现精子在精液中的正常形态百分比与附睾的像素强度（数值像素值）呈负相关（r = -0.46，P <0.05）。像素异质性（像素值的标准差）与正常形态精子的百分比呈负相关（r = -0.42，P <0.05），与异常尾部精子的百分比呈正相关（r = 0.43，P <0.05）。大约在精液评估前 60 天获得的睾丸实质的像素异质性与正常形态精子的百分比呈负相关（r = -0.73，P <0.01）和精子运动能力（r = -0.76，P <0.01），与异常尾部精子的百分比呈正相关（r = 0.72，P <0.01）和松散头部精子的百分比呈正相关（r = 0.79，P <0.01）。我们得出结论，在公羊中，阴囊超声检查结合附睾和睾丸回声纹理的计算机辅助分析，是分别确定当前和未来某些精液参数的一种有价值的方法。
