Effects of therapeutic ultrasound and moderate heat on stallion testes.
Abstract: Transplantation of stem cells into dysfunctional testes is currently being investigated as a therapeutic option for men and stallions with advanced testicular degeneration. This series of "proof of concept" studies aimed to identify a safe and efficient method of inducing severe testicular degeneration to create an optimal equine recipient model for intratesticular stem cell transplantation (SCT). Two ex vivo and two in vivo experiments were conducted. At first, forty testes obtained from castrations were used to identify an effective therapeutic ultrasound (TUS) device and the protocol for increasing intratesticular temperature in stallions. Six min of treatment using the Vetrison Clinic Portable TUS machine raised the intratesticular temperature by 8°C-12.5 °C. This protocol was applied to treat three scrotal testes in three Miniature horse stallions, three times, every other day. Contralateral testes served as controls. There were signs of slight tubular degeneration in treated testes two and three weeks after TUS treatment. The number of seminiferous tubules (STs) with exfoliated germ cells (GCs) was increased in one testis only, three weeks after treatment. The degree of apoptosis of GCs was higher in each treated testis in comparison to the contralateral control testis. Next, the ability of various heating devices to increase intratesticular temperatures to at least 43 °C in stallion testes was tested, using twenty testes obtained from castrations. ThermaCare® Lower Back & Hip Pain Therapy Heatwrap (TC heat wrap) reliably increased intratesticular temperatures and kept them continuously between 43 °C and 48 °C for seven to 8 h. In the follow-up in vivo study, the left testes of three Miniature horse stallions were treated with TUS, after which both testes of each stallion were treated with moderate heat provided by the TC heat wrap (three times, every other day, for 5 h each time). There were signs of moderate tubular degeneration in the samples from all treated testes obtained three weeks after treatments (Heat only or Heat/TUS): areas with hypospermatogenesis, spermatogenic arrest, vacuolized Sertoli cells, numerous STs with exfoliated GCs, increased degree of GCs apoptosis, and changes in three histomorphometric numeric attributes of STs. We concluded that TUS or TC wraps increase intratesticular temperature of the isolated stallion testes. Further, treatment with TUS or moderate heat may induce mild to moderate degenerative changes in stallion testes. However, to achieve more robust result - severe testicular degeneration, our treatment protocol has to be modified.
Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Publication Date: 2023-03-20 PubMed ID: 36966582DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2023.03.014Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary
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The study investigates the effects of therapeutic ultrasound and heat treatment on horse testes, exploring their potential use in creating a model for stem cell transplantation therapy in cases of advanced testicular degeneration. The findings suggest that both treatments can induce mild to moderate changes in testicular tissue, although techniques still need refining for optimum results.
Objective and Methodology
- The goal of this study was to find a reliable method for inducing testicular degeneration in horses as a model for stem cell transplantation therapy. This form of therapy is currently being explored as a treatment for advanced testicular degeneration in both humans and horses.
- To achieve this, the researchers used two experimental techniques. Firstly, therapeutic ultrasound (TUS) was used to raise intratesticular temperatures in horse testes and secondly, a heat-teaching device was applied to the testes to induce temperature increases.
- The experiments were conducted both ex vivo and in vivo. Ex vivo experiments were performed on isolated testes obtained from castrated horses, whereas in vivo tests were conducted on living horses.
Evaluation of Therapeutic Ultrasound (TUS)
- In the ex vivo test, the researchers found that a 6-minute session with a Vetrison Clinic Portable TUS machine could raise the testicular temperature by 8°C-12.5°C.
- This TUS protocol was subsequently applied to three live Miniature horse stallions, with contralateral testes serving as controls.
- Following this protocol, signs of slight tubular degeneration were observed in treated testes two and three weeks after TUS treatment, along with increased exfoliation of germ cells (GCs) in one testis, and a higher degree of GC apoptosis in all treated testes.
Heat Treatment Testing
- Next, the researchers tested the efficacy of various heating devices in increasing the temperature of horse testes, aiming for a target of at least 43°C.
- A ThermaCare® Lower Back & Hip Pain Therapy Heatwrap was found to be the most effective, reliably raising and maintaining testicular temperatures between 43°C and 48°C over a seven to eight-hour period.
- In a follow-up in vivo study, the heat treatment was used on the testes of three Miniature horse stallions, both alone and in combination with TUS.
- Three weeks after treatment, signs of moderate degenerative changes were observed in all treated testes, including areas of hypospermatogenesis, vacuolized Sertoli cells, increased exfoliation of germ cells, increased GC apoptosis, and changes in histomorphometric attributes of seminiferous tubules.
Conclusions
- The researchers concluded that both the TUS and the heat treatment were successful in raising the testicular temperature of isolated horse testes.
- The treatments also resulted in mild to moderate degenerative changes in the testes.
- The team acknowledged the need for modifications to their techniques to achieve their aim of severe testicular degeneration.
Cite This Article
APA
Pozor MA, Benson SM, Macpherson ML, Kelleman AA.
(2023).
Effects of therapeutic ultrasound and moderate heat on stallion testes.
Theriogenology, 203, 21-32.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.theriogenology.2023.03.014 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA. Electronic address: pozorm@ufl.edu.
- Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA. Electronic address: bensons@ufl.edu.
- Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA. Electronic address: macphersonm@ufl.edu.
- Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA. Electronic address: akelleman@ufl.edu.
MeSH Terms
- Horses
- Animals
- Male
- Testis / physiology
- Hot Temperature
- Spermatozoa / physiology
- Scrotum / physiology
- Ultrasonic Therapy / veterinary
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