Evaluation of testicular echotexture with Ecotext as a diagnostic method of testicular dysfunction in stallions.
Abstract: This study aimed to assess if Ecotext, a new software for evaluation of testicular echotexture, is a good method for diagnosis of stallions with testicular dysfunction (TD). Relationships between Ecotext parameters and sperm motility and production, testicular volume, and testicular blood flow were also studied. Ecotext provides a total of six echotexture parameters: Ecotext 1 (black pixels), 2 (white pixels) and 3 (grey pixels), and another 3 parameters related to hypoechogenic areas: Ecotext tubular density (ETD), Ecotext tubular diameter (ETd), and Ecotext tubular area (ETA). Stallions (n = 33) were assessed using proven diagnostic techniques (spermiogram, B-mode and Pulse Doppler ultrasound), and subsequent analysis with Ecotext. Animals were classified as "control stallions" (n:21, acceptable semen quality), and "stallions with TD" (n:12, poor semen quality (TM < 60%, PM < 45% and total nº of sperm with PM < 2000 × 10 spz), that were subdivided into "induced TD group" (immunized, anti-GnRH vaccine) and "acquired TD group". The acquired TD group showed differences in all Ecotext parameters in relation to controls (Ecotext 1:0.11 ± 0.17 vs 2.82 ± 2.52, Ecotext 2:1584.0 ± 575.8 vs 388 ± 368.2, Ecotext 3:134.2 ± 9.26; ETA: 2.14 ± 0.59 vs 5.40 ± 1.90; ETd: 65.66 ± 6.27 vs 86.93 ± 10.65 and ETD: 92.35 ± 11.24 vs 132.10 ± 16.35, p ≤ 0.001). Results suggest acquired TD stallions were suffering testicular degeneration with loss of architecture and function as all Ecotext parameters were altered in relation to controls. Induced TD horses only showed a reduction in ETD (116.2 ± 8.59 vs 132.10 ± 16.35, p ≤ 0.001), despite all sperm parameters being worse. These findings suggested immunized stallions probably only experience an acute loss of testicular functionality and parenchyma architecture is likely not affected since differences in Ecotext parameters with control stallions were not detected. ETD was the best parameter to identify animals with TD (AUC: 0.84, optimal cut-off value of 124.3 seminiferous tubules/cm). Correlations were found between ETD and Doppler indices (PI: 0.60; RI: 0.47 p ≤ 0.001), total testicular volume (r: 0.48; p ≤ 0.05) and sperm motility (TM:0.51; and PM:0.54; p ≤ 0.001) and production (r:0.51; p ≤ 0.001). In summary, Ecotext could identify changes in testicular echotexture of stallions with TD. Results open the possibility for new research focused on establishing the relationship between Ecotext parameters and histomorphometry features in stallion testes.
Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Publication Date: 2022-03-16 PubMed ID: 35378327DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2022.03.004Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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The research article evaluates Ecotext, a new software for examining testicular echotexture, to assess its efficacy in diagnosing testicular dysfunction (TD) in stallions. The study, which triangulates a relationship between Ecotext results and sperm motility and production, testicular size and blood flow, suggests that Ecotext can effectively identify changes in testicular echotexture.
Objective and Methodology
- The study strove to understand if Ecotext, a new technological tool developed to assess testicular echotexture, could be used to effectively identify cases of testicular dysfunction (TD) in stallions.
- Echotexture refers to the variation in the intensity of an ultrasound image, and Ecotext examines six such parameters to understand testicular structure and functionality.
- 33 stallions were examined in the study, using proven diagnostic methods such as spermiograms, B-mode and Pulse Doppler ultrasounds, along with Ecotext.
- The stallions were divided into two groups – “control stallions” with acceptable semen quality and “stallions with TD” which have poor semen quality. The latter group was further divided into two sub-groups, namely “induced TD group” (who had been immunized through an anti-GnRH vaccine) and “acquired TD group”.
Key Findings
- It was found that stallions in the “acquired TD group” had different Ecotext parameters compared to the control group, inferring that the former group suffers from testicular degeneration and loss of function.
- The “induced TD group” had a reduction only in ETD (Ecotext Tubular Density), with all sperm parameters being poor. The researchers inferred from this that stallions immunized possibly only experience an acute loss of testicular functionality and the structure of the testicular parenchyma is likely not affected.
- ETD was identified as the best parameter to detect cases of TD.
- Correlations were identified between ETD and Doppler indices, total testicular volume and sperm motility and production.
Conclusions
- The researchers conclude that Ecotext shows promise as a diagnostic tool that can detect changes in the testicular echotexture of stallions with TD, opening up the possibility of future research focused on the relationship between Ecotext parameters and histomorphometry features in stallion testes.
Cite This Article
APA
Da Silva-Álvarez E, Gaitskell-Phillips G, Ortiz-Rodríguez JM, Serres C, García-Rodríguez B, Gutiérrez-Cepeda L, Martín-Cano FE, Echegaray A, Escartin-Casas N, Requena F, Gil MC, Peña FJ, Ortega-Ferrusola C.
(2022).
Evaluation of testicular echotexture with Ecotext as a diagnostic method of testicular dysfunction in stallions.
Theriogenology, 185, 50-60.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.theriogenology.2022.03.004 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Laboratory of Equine Reproduction and Equine Spermatology, Veterinary Teaching Hospital, University of Extremadura, Cáceres, Spain.
- Laboratory of Equine Reproduction and Equine Spermatology, Veterinary Teaching Hospital, University of Extremadura, Cáceres, Spain.
- Laboratory of Equine Reproduction and Equine Spermatology, Veterinary Teaching Hospital, University of Extremadura, Cáceres, Spain.
- Department of Animal Medicine and Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University Complutense of Madrid, Madrid, Spain.
- Cyneological Service of the Civil Guard, Valdemoro, Madrid, Spain.
- Department of Animal Medicine and Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University Complutense of Madrid, Madrid, Spain.
- Laboratory of Equine Reproduction and Equine Spermatology, Veterinary Teaching Hospital, University of Extremadura, Cáceres, Spain.
- Humeco, Huesca, Spain.
- Humeco, Huesca, Spain.
- Department of Cell Biology, Physiology and Immunology, University of Cordoba, Cordoba, Spain.
- Laboratory of Equine Reproduction and Equine Spermatology, Veterinary Teaching Hospital, University of Extremadura, Cáceres, Spain.
- Laboratory of Equine Reproduction and Equine Spermatology, Veterinary Teaching Hospital, University of Extremadura, Cáceres, Spain.
- Laboratory of Equine Reproduction and Equine Spermatology, Veterinary Teaching Hospital, University of Extremadura, Cáceres, Spain. Electronic address: cristinaof@unex.es.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Horses
- Male
- Semen
- Semen Analysis / veterinary
- Seminiferous Tubules
- Sperm Motility
- Spermatozoa
- Testis / diagnostic imaging
Conflict of Interest Statement
Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest that could be perceived to prejudice the reported research.
Citations
This article has been cited 2 times.- Pérez-Durand MG, Massa-Guzmán A, Luque-Mamani N, Ruelas-Calloapaza DA, Urviola-Sánchez JM, Condori-Chuchi EA, Gutiérrez-Reinoso MA, Perez-Guerra UH, García-Herreros M. Age-Related Differences in Testosterone Concentration and Its Relation to Testicular Biometrics, Hemodynamics, and Fertility in Alpacas (Vicugna pacos).. Vet Sci 2023 Jul 1;10(7).
- 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.
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