Ntemka Aikaterini, Kiossis Evangelos, Boscos Constantin, Theodoridis Alexandros, Kourousekos Georgios, Tsakmakidis Ioannis
School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece.
Directorate of Veterinary Centre of Thessaloniki, Department of Reproduction and Artificial Insemination, National Ministry of Rural Development and Food, Thessaloniki, Greece.
Reprod Domest Anim. 2018 Sep;53 Suppl 2:50-55. doi: 10.1111/rda.13279.
This study investigated correlations among ram semen quality parameters, testicular vascularity and echotexture. Measurements were performed biweekly for a year, before (BE) and after ejaculation (AE), on seven Chios breed rams [three rams (group A) and four rams (group B) of 2-6 and 9-13 years old, respectively], considering breeding (1) and non-breeding period (2). Hemodynamics [Pulsatility Index (PI), Resistive Index (RI)] were evaluated in each testis. Images of testicular parenchyma were analysed to evaluate echogenicity [Mean Value (MV), Contrast (Con), Gray Value Distribution (GVD), Run Length Distribution (RunLD), Long Run Emphasis (LRunEm)]. Semen volume (V), concentration (C), kinetics (CASA), morphology (Sperm Blue), viability (Eosin-Nigrosin) and DNA fragmentation (Acridine Orange) were assessed. In group A/2, semen V was correlated to left testis PI and right testis RI, BE (r = 0.4, p = 0.013/r = 0.6, p < 0.001, respectively), and to right testis PI and RI, AE (r = 0.5, p < 0.001). In A/1/AE, semen C was correlated to left testis PI (r = -0.5, p = 0.003). In group A/1/BE, RI of both testes was correlated to total and tail abnormalities (left: r = -0.5, p = 0.008/ p = 0.004, respectively - right: r = -0.4/r = -0.5, p = 0.01/ p = 0.008, respectively). In group B/1/BE, sperm tail and total abnormalities were correlated to left testis Con (r = 0.5, p = 0.02/ p < 0.001, respectively), whereas in A/2/BE, they were correlated to left testis LRunEm (r = -0.8/r = -0.7, p < 0.001, respectively). In group A/1/BE, DNA damage was correlated to right testis LRunEm (r = -0.6, p < 0.001) and tail abnormalities to left testis PI (r = -0.5, p = 0.03). In group B/1/AE, right testis LRunEm, GVD, RunLD, were correlated to sperm DNA integrity (r = -0.9, p < 0.001). Immotile spermatozoa and viability were correlated to left testis Con in group B/2/AE (r = -0.6/r = 0.6, p < 0.001) and to right testis MV in group A/1/AE (r = -0.6/r = 0.6, p < 0.001). In conclusion, alterations in both ram testes blood flow and echotexture seem to be moderately correlated with sperm assessed parameters, depending on season and ram age.
本研究调查了公羊精液质量参数、睾丸血管分布和回声纹理之间的相关性。在一年时间里，每隔一周对公羊射精前（BE）和射精后（AE）进行测量，测量对象为7只希俄斯品种公羊[分别为3只2 - 6岁的公羊（A组）和4只9 - 13岁的公羊（B组）]，同时考虑繁殖期（1）和非繁殖期（2）。评估每个睾丸的血流动力学[搏动指数（PI）、阻力指数（RI）]。分析睾丸实质图像以评估回声性[平均值（MV）、对比度（Con）、灰度值分布（GVD）、游程长度分布（RunLD）、长游程强调（LRunEm）]。评估精液体积（V）、浓度（C）、动力学（计算机辅助精子分析）、形态（精子蓝染色）、活力（伊红 - 黑色素染色）和DNA片段化（吖啶橙染色）。在A/2组中，精液V与左侧睾丸PI和右侧睾丸RI在射精前相关（r分别为0.4，p = 0.013 / r = 0.6，p < 0.001），与右侧睾丸PI和RI在射精后相关（r = 0.5，p < 0.001）。在A/1/AE组中，精液C与左侧睾丸PI相关（r = -0.5，p = 0.003）。在A/1/BE组中，两侧睾丸的RI与总异常和尾部异常相关（左侧：r分别为 -0.5，p = 0.008 / p = 0.004 - 右侧：r = -0.4 / r = -0.5，p = 0.01 / p = 0.008）。在B/1/BE组中，精子尾部和总异常与左侧睾丸Con相关（r = 0.5，p = 0.02 / p < 0.001），而在A/2/BE组中，它们与左侧睾丸LRunEm相关（r分别为 -0.8 / r = -0.7，p < 0.001）。在A/1/BE组中，DNA损伤与右侧睾丸LRunEm相关（r = -0.6，p < 0.001），尾部异常与左侧睾丸PI相关（r = -0.5，p = 0.03）。在B/1/AE组中，右侧睾丸LRunEm、GVD、RunLD与精子DNA完整性相关（r = -0.9，p < 0.001）。在B/2/AE组中，不活动精子和活力与左侧睾丸Con相关（r分别为 -0.6 / r = 0.6，p < 0.001），在A/1/AE组中与右侧睾丸MV相关（r分别为 -0.6 / r = 0.6，p < 0.001）。总之，公羊睾丸血流和回声纹理的改变似乎与精子评估参数存在中度相关性，这取决于季节和公羊年龄。
