Ultrasonographic measurement of stallion accessory sex glands and excurrent ducts during seminal emission and ejaculation.
Abstract: Accessory sex gland and excurrent duct activity of 10 stallions was visualized with transrectal ultrasonography during seminal emission and ejaculation. First and last penile urethral contractions were defined as the start (0 sec) and end of ejaculation, respectively. Duration of ejaculation (n = 63 ejaculations) averaged 6.15 +/- 2.98 sec. Penile urethral contractions occurred an average of 6.2 +/- 2.2 times per ejaculation. Right bulbourethral glands (n = 19 ejaculations) alternated repeatedly from ovoid to flattened, irregular shapes during ejaculation. Cross-sectional area of right bulbourethral glands did not change (p > 0.40) between 3 sec before ejaculation and the end of ejaculation. Cross-sectional area of right prostatic lobes (n = 17 ejaculations) decreased (p < 0.01) between 3 sec before ejaculation and the end of ejaculation, with decreases (p < 0.05) at 2, 1, and 0 sec before ejaculation and at the time of the second penile urethral contraction. Excurrent ducts of ampullae (n = 17 ejaculations) first appeared to dilate with fluid at 2.60 +/- 0.23 sec before ejaculation and subsequently dilated an average of 3.4 +/- 0.3 times between 3 sec before ejaculation and the end of ejaculation. Fifty-three of 58 (93%) ampullar duct dilations occurred prior to the start of ejaculation. During each dilation of ampullar ducts, fluid remained visible for 0.23 +/- 0.04 sec. Fluid was detected within the lumina of vesicular gland excurrent ducts during the 6 of 17 monitored ejaculations that produced detectable gel.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Publication Date: 1993-08-01 PubMed ID: 8373949DOI: 10.1095/biolreprod49.2.267Google Scholar: Lookup
The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.
The research involves using ultrasonography to observe the changes that occur in the accessory sex glands and excurrent ducts of stallions during ejaculation. The findings show that ejaculation lasts around 6.15 seconds on average, with the right bulbourethral glands changing shape but maintaining stable cross-sectional area. The right prostatic lobes decreased in cross-sectional area during ejaculation and the excurrent ducts of ampullae were seen to fill with fluid and dilate repeatedly prior to ejaculation.
Objective of the Study
- The study aimed to use transrectal ultrasonography to visualize changes in the accessory sex glands and excurrent ducts of stallions during seminal emission and ejaculation.
Methodology
- 10 stallions were observed during ejaculation, with the duration noted and the frequency of penile urethral contractions recorded.
- Different parts of the stallion’s reproductive anatomy, including the right bulbourethral glands, right prostatic lobes, and ampulla excurrent ducts, were measured before, during, and after ejaculation.
Key Findings
- Ejaculation lasted an average of 6.15 seconds and featured approximately 6.2 penile urethral contractions.
- The right bulbourethral glands were seen to change from an ovoid to a flattened, irregular shape during ejaculation, without any significant change in cross-sectional area.
- However, the cross-sectional area of the right prostatic lobes did decrease significantly during ejaculation, with notable reductions noted at 2, 1, and 0 seconds prior to ejaculation, as well as at the time of the second penile urethral contraction.
- The excurrent ducts of the ampullae filled with fluid and dilated an average of 3.4 times in the 3 seconds leading up to ejaculation. In 93% of cases, this dilation occurred prior to the start of ejaculation. Fluid remained visible within the ducts for approximately 0.23 seconds during dilation.
- Fluid was also noted within the lumina of the vesicular gland excurrent ducts in 6 out of 17 observed ejaculations that produced identifiable gel.
Cite This Article
APA
Weber JA, Woods GL.
(1993).
Ultrasonographic measurement of stallion accessory sex glands and excurrent ducts during seminal emission and ejaculation.
Biol Reprod, 49(2), 267-273.
https://doi.org/10.1095/biolreprod49.2.267 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Animal and Veterinary Science, University of Idaho, Moscow 83844-2201.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Bulbourethral Glands / diagnostic imaging
- Bulbourethral Glands / physiology
- Ejaculation / physiology
- Genitalia, Male / diagnostic imaging
- Genitalia, Male / physiology
- Horses / physiology
- Male
- Prostate / diagnostic imaging
- Prostate / physiology
- Seminal Vesicles / diagnostic imaging
- Seminal Vesicles / physiology
- Ultrasonography
- Urethra / diagnostic imaging
- Urethra / physiology
Citations
This article has been cited 2 times.- Castiglione Morelli MA, Ostuni A, Giangaspero B, Cecchini S, Carluccio A, Boni R. Relationships between Seminal Plasma Metabolites, Semen Characteristics and Sperm Kinetics in Donkey (Equus asinus). Animals (Basel) 2021 Jan 15;11(1).
- Egyptien S, Deleuze S, Ledeck J, Ponthier J. Sperm Quality Assessment in Stallions: How to Choose Relevant Assays to Answer Clinical Questions. Animals (Basel) 2023 Oct 6;13(19).
Use Nutrition Calculator
Check if your horse's diet meets their nutrition requirements with our easy-to-use tool Check your horse's diet with our easy-to-use tool
Talk to a Nutritionist
Discuss your horse's feeding plan with our experts over a free phone consultation Discuss your horse's diet over a phone consultation
Submit Diet Evaluation
Get a customized feeding plan for your horse formulated by our equine nutritionists Get a custom feeding plan formulated by our nutritionists
