Contents Testicular tissue maintenance is performed by the testicular artery, and the hemodynamics of this artery can be evaluated using Doppler ultrasonography. The aim of this study was to characterize the peak systolic velocity (PSV), end diastolic velocity (EDV), pulsatility index (PI) and resistivity index (RI) of five regions of the testicular artery in dogs, including two proposed regions and three that have been previously described. Twenty‐two dogs were used, and the PSV, EDV, PI and RI of the testicular artery were measured in five regions: proximal, medial and distal supratesticular; marginal; and intratesticular. The median values for PSV (cm/s), EDV (cm/s), PI and RI in the five regions were as follows: proximal supratesticular (23.1, 3.7, 2.1 and 0.8); medial supratesticular (17.2, 4.5, 1.5, and 0.7); distal supratesticular (12.2, 5.7, 0.8, and 0.5); marginal (11.3, 6.5, 0.5, and 0.4); and intratesticular (5.7, 3.5, 0.5, and 0.4). There was a difference between the PSV of the medial and distal supratesticular regions. There were differences in the PSV, EDV, PI and RI among the distal supratesticular, marginal and intratesticular regions. Measurements of PSV, EDV, PI and RI of the testicular artery in dogs at the proposed regions showed different results due to the hemodynamic and morphological differences of the artery during its course in the spermatic cord and to the testicles. It is necessary to identify the region in testicular artery Doppler velocimetric evaluations of dogs, given that there is a difference according to the region measured.

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Sperm quality can be affected by a reduction in testicular blood flow, which can be measured by Doppler ultrasonography. The aim of this study was to correlate the Doppler velocimetry of the testicular artery with kinetics of the epididymal spermatozoa in dogs. Twenty‐two dogs (44 testicles) were evaluated by Doppler ultrasonography in five regions of the testicular artery before orchiectomy. Spermatozoa were recovered by the epididymal tail compression technique and analysed for kinetics on a computer‐assisted semen analysis (CASA system). Morphology (modified Karras) and sperm membrane integrity were analysed by eosin–nigrosine staining. Data were analysed by Pearson's correlation test (p < .01). The mean total motility was 69.0% ± 17.7, progressive motility was 43.7% ± 14.7, average path velocity (VAP) was 127.0 µm/s ± 20.7, curvilinear velocity (VCL) was 221.0 µm/s ± 31.1, and sperm velocity index (SVI) was 389.9 ± 56.1. There were positive correlations between the peak systolic velocity (PSV) in the proximal supratesticular region with the SVI (r = .529), VCL (r = .555) and VAP (r = .473), and a negative correlation with the percentage of slow spermatozoa (r = −.463). The results suggest that the testicular artery blood flow velocity can positively affect the speed of spermatozoa movement. For the first time, we have correlated sperm kinetics with the Doppler evaluation of the testicular artery in dogs.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the dynamics of the scrotal temperature, sperm quality and testicular blood flow by using infrared thermography and Doppler ultrasonography in bulls submitted to scrotal insulation. Braford bulls (n = 8) at 18 months of age, were assigned into the following groups: insulated for 72 h (G 72; n = 2), 96 h (G 96, n = 2), 120 h (G 120, n = 2), and control animals (CON; n = 2) that remained without insulation. Infrared thermography and Doppler ultrasonography parameters were measured at four different time points: immediately after the scrotal insulation (M0), within 10 min (M10), 30 min (M30) and 60 min (M60) after scrotal insulation. The sperm quality was evaluated weekly (S1/S12). The data were analyzed by ANOVA, t-test (paired) and Pearson's correlation with a significance level of 5%. None of the observed variables were different between the insulated groups (P > 0.05). Insulated animals showed higher scrotal temperature in M0 compared to that in the M10, M30 and M60 periods (P < 0.05). There was no difference in the pulsatility and resistive indexes after scrotal insulation. However, blood flow velocity was higher in M10 compared to that in the M0, M30 and M60 periods (P < 0.05). The sperm quality was higher (P < 0.05) in all twelve collections from the control group compared with the insulated groups. Scrotal insulation resulted in changes in the sperm quality, scrotal temperature and testicular blood flow velocity.