Testicular tumours are the most common neoplasms in male dogs accounting for approximately 90% of all tumours affecting the genitourinary tract. Gray-scale ultrasonography in combination with colour and power Doppler imaging has been well accepted as an accurate technique for assessing scrotal lesions and vascularization of the testis. Colour Doppler sensitivity for low blood flows appears promising in the study of testicular disorders. The aim of this study was to assess if colour and power Doppler ultrasound is a good tool for the investigation of testicular lesions in dogs, to report the sonographic features of lesions and to measure colour and power Doppler parameters such as resistive index (RI), pulsatility index (PI), hypovascularization and hypervascularization (VI) determining if they can be used to distinguish testicular neoplasms from the wide spectrum of non-neoplastic pathological findings. In this study, 50 male dogs of various breeds, aged between 7 and 14 years, presented with testicular disorders were selected. RI and PI were calculated. Mean RI values for neoplastic, inflammatory and degenerative lesions were 0.54, 0.45 and 0.58, respectively. Mean PI values were 0.62, 0.55 and 0.63, respectively. Hypovascularization and hypervascularization of the lesion were evaluated throughout the vascularity index (VI). Vascular signals in neoplasms were significantly intensified around and inside the mass if compared with those measured during inflammatory and degenerative lesions. VI markedly increased in solid tumours. Pathological testes were removed; macroscopical, histological and immunoistochemical evaluations were carried out. Colour Doppler showed increased intralesional and peripheral flows in all neoplastic lesions analysed. No flows were detected around cysts.

In the last decade, progenitor cells isolated from dissociated endometrial tissue have been the subject of many studies in several animal species. Recently, endometrial cells showing characteristics of mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) have been demonstrated in human, pig and cow uterine tissue samples. The aim of this study was the isolation and characterization of stromal cells from the endometrium of healthy bitches, a tissue that after elective surgery is routinely discarded. Multipotent stromal cells could be isolated from all bitches enrolled in the study (n = 7). The multipotency of cells was demonstrated by their capacity to differentiate into adipocytic, osteocytic and chondrocytic lineages. Clonogenicity and cell proliferation ability were also tested. Furthermore, gene expression analysis by RT-PCR was used to compare the expression of a set of genes (CD44, CD29, CD34, CD45, CD90, CD13, CD133, CD73, CD31 CD105, Oct4) with adipose tissue-derived MSC. Stromal cells isolated from uterine endometrium showed similar morphology, ability of subculture and plasticity, and also expressed a panel of genes comparable with adipose tissue-derived MSC. These data suggest that endometrial stromal cells fulfil the basic criteria proposed by the "Mesenchymal and Tissue Stem Cell Committee of the International Society for Cellular Therapy" for the identification of mesenchymal stem cells. Although endometrial mesenchymal stem cells (EnMSC) showed a lower replicative ability in comparison with adipose tissue-derived MSC, they could be considered a cell therapeutic agent alternative to adipose tissue or bone marrow-derived MSC in dog.

This study aimed to investigate the preservability and viability of the rabbit spermatozoa diluted in a new semen extender Formula V R in comparison with Lepus V R at 17 C of storage. The main characteristic of the new extender formulation is the use of an enzymatic agent associated to a polysaccharide as energy source precursor, added with gentamycin. During eight trials, ejaculates from 70 bucks were collected and diluted at 1:10 ratio with both the extenders, after 24 h of storage the semen doses were used for the artificial insemination (AI). Aliquots of the semen doses for each trial were stored at 17 C, the total and progressive motility were checked at 0, 4, 12, 18, 24, 36, 48, 60, 72, 84, 96, 108 h of storage. A total of 1267 and 1525 does were inseminated, respectively with Formula V R and Lepus V R . During storage the mean total and progressive motility (77.23% and 72.854%, respectively) were significantly higher for Formula V R (p < .01) and the progressive motility at almost 70% was maintained for at least 60 h vs the 24 h of storage for Lepus V R with significant differences after 12 h of storage (p < .05). The new extender reported a higher pregnancy rate (p < .05) and an average of 9.25 rabbits born per litter vs 8.83 for the traditional extender (p < .05), while the mean of the newborn alive was 9.08 using Formula V R vs 8.51 with Lepus V R (p < .05). In conclusion, the use of Formula V R is recommended for rabbit semen AI programmes. ARTICLE HISTORY

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a rare disease in dogs that depends from an endogenous insulin supply that is insufficient to meet the tissues demands for the action of diabetogenic molecules like progesterone (P4), estradiol, growth hormone (GH), placental lactogen and placental cytokines. This report describes for the first time a case of GDM complicated by ketoacidosis treated with the P4 receptor blocker aglepristone. In our case aglepristone seemed to increase insulin sensitivity, helping in the resolution of ketoacidosis and of diabetes mellitus. Aglepristone may represent an effective and well tolerated therapeutic option in case of GDM.

A two-years old male mixed breed dog weighing 11 kg was brought to the Veterinary Teaching Hospital by its owner because he noticed a pigmented skin zone with a mass lateral to the penis. The patient was in good clinical condition. On clinical examination, only one testicle was found within the scrotum, and a mass lateral to the right site of the penis was present; upon palpation, the mass was presumed to be a testicle. An ultrasound examination confirmed the presence of an ectopic testicle in that position. The dog had normal fertility and testosterone levels were normal. The patient underwent bilateral orchiectomy and was discharged the following day. The peculiarity of this case is the presence of two independent scrota, an ectopic testicle and its adnexa passing through the abdominal wall, was not supposed to be due a migration along the typical male gonad path during descent.