Ortiz-Rodriguez Jose M, Anel-Lopez Luis, Martín-Muñoz Patricia, Álvarez Mercedes, Gaitskell-Phillips Gemma, Anel Luis, Rodríguez-Medina Pedro, Peña Fernando J, Ortega Ferrusola Cristina
Laboratory of Equine Reproduction and Equine Spermatology, Veterinary Teaching Hospital, University of Extremadura, Cáceres, Spain.
Department of Animal Medicine, Surgery and Veterinary Anatomy, University of León, León, Spain.
PLoS One. 2017 May 30;12(5):e0175878. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0175878. eCollection 2017.
Testicular function is particularly susceptible to vascular insult, resulting in a negative impact on sperm production and quality of the ejaculate. A prompt diagnosis of testicular dysfunction enables implementation of appropriate treatment, hence improving fertility forecasts for stallions. The present research aims to: (1) assess if Doppler ultrasonography is a good tool to diagnose stallions with testicular dysfunction; (2) to study the relationship between Doppler parameters of the testicular artery and those of sperm quality assessed by flow cytometry and (3) to establish cut off values to differentiate fertile stallions from those with pathologies causing testicular dysfunction. A total of 10 stallions (n: 7 healthy stallions and n: 3 sub-fertile stallions) were used in this study. Two ejaculates per stallion were collected and preserved at 5°C in a commercial extender. The semen was evaluated at T0, T24 and T48h by flow cytometry. Integrity and viability of sperm (YoPro®-1/EthD-1), mitochondrial activity (MitoTracker® Deep Red FM) and the DNA fragmentation index (Sperm Chromatin Structure Assay) were assessed. Doppler parameters were measured at three different locations on the testicular artery (Supratesticular artery (SA); Capsular artery (CA) and Intratesticular artery (IA)). The Doppler parameters calculated were: Resistive Index (RI), Pulsatility Index (PI), Peak Systolic Velocity (PSV), End Diastolic Velocity (EDV), Time Average Maximum Velocity (TAMV), Total Arterial Blood Flow (TABF) and TABF rate. The capsular artery was the most reliable location to carry out spectral Doppler assessment, since blood flow parameters of this artery were most closely correlated with sperm quality parameters. Significant differences in all the Doppler parameters studied were observed between fertile and subfertile stallions (p ≤ 0.05). The principal components analysis assay determined that fertile stallions are characterized by high EDV, TAMV, TABF and TABF rate values (high vascular perfusion). In contrast, subfertile stallions tend to present high values of PI and RI (high vascular resistance). The ROC curves revealed that the best Doppler parameters to predict sperm quality in stallions were: Doppler velocities (PSV, EDV and TAMV), the diameter of the capsular artery and TABF parameters (tissue perfusion parameters). Cut off values were established using a Youden´s Index to identify fertile stallions from stallions with testicular dysfunction. Spectral Doppler ultrasound is a good predictive tool for sperm quality since correlations were determined among Doppler parameters and markers of sperm quality. Doppler ultrasonography could be a valuable diagnostic tool for use by clinical practitioners for the diagnosis of stallions with testicular dysfunction and could be a viable alternative to invasive procedures traditionally used for diagnosis of sub-fertility disorders.
睾丸功能特别容易受到血管损伤的影响,从而对精子生成和射精质量产生负面影响。及时诊断睾丸功能障碍有助于实施适当的治疗,从而改善种马的生育预测。本研究旨在:(1)评估多普勒超声是否是诊断睾丸功能障碍种马的良好工具;(2)研究睾丸动脉的多普勒参数与通过流式细胞术评估的精子质量参数之间的关系;(3)确定区分可育种马和患有导致睾丸功能障碍疾病的种马的临界值。本研究共使用了10匹种马(n:7匹健康种马和n:3匹亚生育力种马)。每匹种马采集两份射精样本,并在5°C下保存在商业稀释剂中。在T0、T24和T48小时通过流式细胞术对精液进行评估。评估精子的完整性和活力(YoPro®-1/EthD-1)、线粒体活性(MitoTracker® Deep Red FM)和DNA碎片化指数(精子染色质结构分析)。在睾丸动脉的三个不同位置测量多普勒参数(睾丸上动脉(SA);包膜动脉(CA)和睾丸内动脉(IA))。计算的多普勒参数为:阻力指数(RI)、搏动指数(PI)、收缩期峰值速度(PSV)、舒张末期速度(EDV)、时间平均最大速度(TAMV)、总动脉血流量(TABF)和TABF率。包膜动脉是进行频谱多普勒评估最可靠的位置,因为该动脉的血流参数与精子质量参数的相关性最密切。在可育和亚生育力种马之间观察到所有研究的多普勒参数存在显著差异(p≤0.05)。主成分分析测定表明,可育种马的特征是EDV、TAMV、TABF和TABF率值高(高血管灌注)。相比之下,亚生育力种马往往呈现高PI和RI值(高血管阻力)。ROC曲线显示,预测种马精子质量的最佳多普勒参数为:多普勒速度(PSV、EDV和TAMV)、包膜动脉直径和TABF参数(组织灌注参数)。使用尤登指数确定临界值,以识别可育种马和患有睾丸功能障碍的种马。频谱多普勒超声是精子质量的良好预测工具,因为在多普勒参数和精子质量标志物之间确定了相关性。多普勒超声检查可能是临床医生用于诊断睾丸功能障碍种马的有价值的诊断工具,并且可能是传统上用于诊断亚生育障碍的侵入性程序的可行替代方法。