Effect of pentoxifylline treatment on testicular perfusion and semen quality in Miniature horse stallions.
Abstract: The objective was to investigate the effects of pentoxifylline (PTX) on testicular perfusion and sperm production in stallions. In a preliminary study, six mature Miniature horse stallions were given 0, 8.5, or 17.0 mg/kg of PTX orally, twice daily, for 3 d. Total Arterial Blood Flow Rate (TABFR) was higher (P < 0.05) in all treated versus control stallions during and after treatment. Two months later (during the fall and winter), the same stallions received either 0 or 17 mg/kg of PTX orally, twice daily for 60 d. Resistance and pulsatility indices (RI and PI, respectively) decreased in PTX-treated stallions between Treatment 1 and Post-treatment periods. Arterial diameter, as well as Total Arterial Blood Flow (TABF), decreased in controls between Baseline and Treatment 1 (P < 0.05). A similar decrease in arterial diameter was delayed in Group TREATED, but reached significance during Post-treatment (P < 0.05), whereas TABF did not change in this group. Furthermore, TABFR had a transient tendency to increase during Treatment 1 (P < 0.1), whereas it steadily decreased in controls and reached significance in the Post-treatment period (P < 0.05). Both RI and PI were negatively correlated with end diastolic velocity (EDV) in both groups (P < 0.0001). There were positive correlations between RI and peak systolic velocity (PSV) in treated stallions during Treatment 1 (RI: r = 0.53, P = 0.021; PI: r = 0.59, P = 0.007). Also, there were negative correlations between Time Averaged Maximum Velocity (TAMAX) and Doppler indexes in treated stallions during Treatment 2 period (RI: r = -0.49, P = 0.006; PI: r = -0.47, P = 0.008), and during Post-treatment periods (RI: r = -0.40, P = 0.049; PI: r = -042, P = 0.039). Transient hydrocele occurred in all treated stallions (a potential complication of high-dose PTX). Semen end points were not significantly affected by PTX treatment. In conclusion, PTX delayed the seasonal decrease of testicular perfusion in stallions. Sperm quality and quantity were not significantly affected; perhaps they would have been enhanced by prolonged treatment.
Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Publication Date: 2011-07-12 PubMed ID: 21752455DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2011.05.005Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Randomized Controlled Trial
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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This research studied the impact of a drug called pentoxifylline (PTX) on testicular blood flow and sperm production in Miniature horse stallions. It found that PTX improves testicular blood flow and could potentially delay testicular blood flow reduction during seasonal changes, however, it did not significantly affect sperm quality or quantity.
Methodology and Findings
- The researchers conducted a preliminary study in which six mature Miniature horse stallions were given varying doses of PTX. They observed that Total Arterial Blood Flow Rate (TABFR) was consistently higher in stallions treated with PTX compared to those without treatment.
- They repeated the process after two months during fall and winter seasons. The stallions were then monitored for other factors such as Resistance and Pulsatility Indices (RI and PI) which displayed a decrease in PTX-treated stallions between the first treatment and post-treatment periods.
- They also found that TABFR tended to increase during Treatment 1, while it decreased in the control group. This decrease was found significant in the post-treatment period.
- It was observed that both RI and PI negatively correlated with end diastolic velocity (EDV) rate for both treated and untreated stallions.
- Positive correlations were found between RI and peak systolic velocity (PSV) in the treated stallions during Treatment 1. Similarly, negative correlations were detected between Time Averaged Maximum Velocity (TAMAX) and Doppler indexes during subsequent treatment periods.
Side Effects and Overall Impact
- All treated stallions experienced transient hydrocele, a potential side effect of high-dose PTX treatment. However, no significant alteration was noticed in the semen end points or sperm quality and quantity following the PTX treatment.
- The results suggest that though pentoxifylline might help delay the seasonal decrease of testicular blood flow in stallions, it does not appear to significantly impact sperm production. The study proposes that perhaps prolonged treatment could show enhancements in sperm count or quality but acknowledges that this is purely speculative.
Cite This Article
APA
Pozor MA, Muehlhaus J, King A, Macpherson ML, Troedsson MH, Bailey CS.
(2011).
Effect of pentoxifylline treatment on testicular perfusion and semen quality in Miniature horse stallions.
Theriogenology, 76(6), 1027-1035.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.theriogenology.2011.05.005 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32610-0136, USA. PozorM@ufl.edu
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Horses / physiology
- Male
- Pentoxifylline / pharmacology
- Regional Blood Flow / drug effects
- Semen Analysis
- Spermatogenesis / drug effects
- Testis / blood supply
- Testis / diagnostic imaging
- Testis / drug effects
- Ultrasonography
- Vasodilator Agents / pharmacology
Citations
This article has been cited 6 times.- Samir H, ElSayed MI, Radwan F, Hedia M, Hendawy H, Hendawy AO, Elbadawy M, Watanabe G. An updated insight on testicular hemodynamics: Environmental, physiological, and technical perspectives in farm and companion animals.. Vet Res Commun 2023 Jun;47(2):323-345.
- Ortega-Ferrusola C, Gómez-Arrones V, Martín-Cano FE, Gil MC, Peña FJ, Gaitskell-Phillips G, Da Silva-Álvarez E. Advances in the ultrasound diagnosis in equine reproductive medicine: New approaches.. Reprod Domest Anim 2022 Oct;57 Suppl 5(Suppl 5):34-44.
- Lu Y, Su H, Zhang J, Wang Y, Li H. Treatment of Poor Sperm Quality and Erectile Dysfunction With Oral Pentoxifylline: A Systematic Review.. Front Pharmacol 2021;12:789787.
- Ortiz-Rodriguez JM, Anel-Lopez L, Martín-Muñoz P, Álvarez M, Gaitskell-Phillips G, Anel L, Rodríguez-Medina P, Peña FJ, Ortega Ferrusola C. Pulse Doppler ultrasound as a tool for the diagnosis of chronic testicular dysfunction in stallions.. PLoS One 2017;12(5):e0175878.
- Yao C, Li G, Qian Y, Cai M, Yin H, Xiao L, Tang W, Guo F, Shi B. Protection of Pentoxifylline against Testis Injury Induced by Intermittent Hypobaric Hypoxia.. Oxid Med Cell Longev 2016;2016:3406802.
- Takhtfooladi MA, Moayer F, Takhtfooladi HA. Beneficial effect of pentoxifylline into the testis of rats in an experimental model of unilateral hindlimb ischemia/reperfusion injury.. Int Braz J Urol 2015 May-Jun;41(3):576-83.
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