Medicina Veterinária (Jul 2023)

Use of grayscale histogram to assess testicular changes in ram caused by heat stress

  • Humberto Fernandes Veloso Neto,
  • Maiana Silva Chaves,
  • José Carlos Ferreira-Silva,
  • Joane Isis Travassos Vieira,
  • Rosane Jamille de Oliveira Araujo,
  • José Pompeu dos Santos Filho,
  • Manoel Lopes da Silva Filho,
  • Vicente José de Figueiredo Freitas,
  • Marcos Antonio Lemos Oliveira

Journal volume & issue
Vol. 17, no. 2

Abstract

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Because it detects discrete changes in tissue density, ultrasound allows an early diagnosis of physiologic changes, especially when dealing with subclinical changes. aimed to evaluate the use of quantitative analysis of the gray scale of ultrasound images of ovine testicles as a method for early diagnosis of testicular changes caused by heat stress. Testicles from ten ovine were insulated and then evaluated regarding echogenicity, echotexture, anatomical measurements, and seminal characteristics. Echogenicity was the first variable to show changes during the insulation period, as well as the first one to show evidence of regeneration of those changes. There was a correlation (p 0.05) in echotexture. Testicular measurements were only altered (p < 0.05) after insulation; however, the structural integrity of the seminiferous tubules was not altered. Echogenicity is an efficient ultrasound parameter for the early diagnosis of a testicular degenerative process as well as for the early diagnosis of its regeneration.

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