Effect of a single injection of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) and human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) on testicular blood flow measured by color doppler ultrasonography in male Shiba goats

Abstract

Although color Doppler ultrasonography has been used to evaluate testicular blood flow in many species, very little has been done in goat. Eight male Shiba goats were exposed to a single intramuscular injection of either gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH group; 1 µg/kg BW) or human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG group; 25 IU/kg BW). Plasma testosterone (T), estradiol (E2) and inhibin (INH) were measured just before (0 hr) and at different intervals post injection by radioimmunoassay. Testis volume (TV) and Doppler indices, such as resistive index (RI) and pulsatility index (PI) of the supratesticular artery, were measured by B-mode and color Doppler ultrasonography, respectively. The results indicated an increase in testicular blood flow in both groups, as RI and PI decreased significantly (P<0.05), but this increase was significant higher and earlier in hCG group (1 hr) than in the GnRH group (2 hr). A high correlation was found for RI and PI with both T (RI, r= −0.862; PI, r= −0.707) and INH in the GnRH group (RI, r=0.661; PI, r=0.701). However, a significant (P<0.05) correlation was found between E2 and both RI (r= −0.610) and PI (r= −0.763) in hCG group. In addition, TV significantly increased and was highly correlated with RI in both groups (GnRH, r= −0.718; hCG, r= −0.779). In conclusion, hCG and GnRH may improve testicular blood flow and TV in Shiba goats.

Changes in testicular size, echotexture, and arterial blood flow associated with the attainment of puberty in Dorper rams raised in a subtropical climate

“…Studies of blood flow in the arteries supplying male reproductive organs in small ruminants are scarce (Camela et al., ; Samir et al., ; Zelli et al., ) even though in veterinary practice Doppler ultrasonography of the testicular artery can be used to ascertain normal testicular function and diagnose certain pathological conditions (e.g., spermatic cord traction, testicular infarction, varicocele or testicular/epididymal cancer) (dogs: Zelli et al., ; stallions: Pozor, , ; Pozor & McDonnell, ). Doppler ultrasonographic indices of the testicular arteries taken in the convoluted aspect of the vessels (i.e., spermatic cord) in the present Dorper rams have revealed a monophasic blood flow pattern of low resistance, with long, recurrent systolic peaks, and high diastolic flow velocity (Figure b).…”

Can testicular artery Doppler velocimetry values change according to the measured region in dogs?

“…Besides that, studies have demonstrated the usefulness of Doppler analysis as an additional tool for the andrological examination of males in different species, such as stallions (Ortiz‐Rodriguez et al, ), toms (de Brito et al, ), kids (Samir et al, ), rams (Batissaco et al, ), bulls (Guido, Guido, Santos Filho, & Wischral, ), dogs (England et al, ) and men (Pinggera et al, ).…”

New Approaches to Assess Fertility in Domestic Animals: Relationship between Arterial Blood Flow to the Testicles and Seminal Quality

“…Pozor and McDonnel (2004) concluded it is possible to characterize the testicular artery by ultrasonography and the importance of its measurement in two locations due to its convoluted course [ 20 ]. Following these results, more research was performed in other animal species, establishing physiological parameters of the testicular artery using CD and SD at different locations in stallions [ 20 , 21 , 22 ], jackass [ 23 ], dogs [ 21 , 24 , 25 ], felines [ 26 ], bull [ 27 , 28 , 29 ], rams [ 30 , 31 , 32 , 33 , 34 ], bucks [ 9 , 12 ] and camelids [ 35 ].…”