Aires Luiz Paulo Nogueira, Gasser Beatriz, Del'Aguila-Silva Priscila, Gonçalves Joedson Dantas, Uscategui Ricardo Andres Ramirez, Spada Stefano, De Felice Daniela, Russo Marco, Lima Bruna Bressianini, Gimenes Lindsay Unno, Feliciano Marcus Antônio Rossi
Department of Veterinary Clinic and Surgery, School of Agricultural and Veterinarian Sciences, São Paulo State University "Júlio de Mesquita Filho" (FCAV/UNESP), Jaboticabal, São Paulo, Brazil.
Instituto de Ciências Agrárias, Universidade Federal dos Vales do Jequitinhonha e Mucuri (UFVJM), Unaí, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
Sci Rep. 2025 Feb 28;15(1):7121. doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-91087-9.
Ultrasound is an important tool in small animal andrology for assessing the integrity of the testes. This study explores ultrasound's role in assessing the canine testes and understanding the correlation of sonographic parameters to sperm quality. It investigates B-mode and Doppler ultrasound techniques alongside advanced methods like Shear-wave Elastography (SWE) and Contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS). The aim was to standardize a multiparametric ultrasound (MPUS) evaluation protocol using these techniques in normozoospermic dogs. Eight healthy male dogs were assessed. B-mode assessed testicular morphology, while Doppler evaluated testicular artery waveform morphology and velocimetric parameters. SWE measured testicular stiffness, and CEUS assessed testicular perfusion. Seminal parameters were also analyzed. Results revealed normal B-mode sonographic findings and some correlations between Doppler parameters and sperm quality. SWE demonstrated consistent testicular stiffness regardless of the depth of evaluation, with correlations of the stiffness of the head of the epididymis to the ejaculate volume. CEUS identified blood flow differences between testes and some perfusion parameters correlated with sperm features. This comprehensive ultrasound assessment provides valuable insights into canine reproductive health, providing basis for further studies on dogs with abnormal sperm quality and with different fertility statuses.
超声是小动物男科学中评估睾丸完整性的重要工具。本研究探讨了超声在评估犬睾丸以及理解超声参数与精子质量之间相关性方面的作用。它研究了B超和多普勒超声技术以及诸如剪切波弹性成像（SWE）和超声造影（CEUS）等先进方法。目的是在正常精子生成的犬中使用这些技术标准化多参数超声（MPUS）评估方案。对八只健康雄性犬进行了评估。B超评估睾丸形态，而多普勒评估睾丸动脉波形形态和测速参数。SWE测量睾丸硬度，并通过CEUS评估睾丸灌注。还分析了精液参数。结果显示B超检查结果正常，并且多普勒参数与精子质量之间存在一些相关性。无论评估深度如何，SWE均显示睾丸硬度一致，附睾头部硬度与射精量之间存在相关性。CEUS识别出睾丸之间的血流差异，并且一些灌注参数与精子特征相关。这种全面的超声评估为犬类生殖健康提供了有价值的见解，为进一步研究精子质量异常和生育状态不同的犬提供了依据。
