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.

ContentsThe collection of epididymal sperm is an option for preservation of germplasm of genetically superior animals that need to be orchiectomized or have died. The extender type used to freeze sperm is important to avoid spermatozoal membrane damage and to preserve semen quality after cryopreservation. The objective of this study was to verify the effects of a commercial bovine extender (Bovimix ® ; Nutricell, Campinas) and a traditional TRIS-citric acidglucose-egg yolk-7% glycerol extender on cryopreservation of canine epididymal sperm. The testes of 13 adult dogs were kept at 5°C for 24 h in saline solution, and epididymal sperm was recovered in Ringers solution without lactate and were evaluated for motility. Samples with ! 80% motility were pooled and then divided before dilution and packaging in 0.5 ml plastic straws, equilibration at 4°C for 1 h, freezing in nitrogen vapour for 20 min and storing at À196°C. The straws were thawed at 56°C for 10 s and were evaluated for motility by computer assisted analysis (CASA). The semen parameters, sperm movement index, linearity, total motility and rapid progressive motility were statistically higher in Bovimix ® than TRIS. In contrast, amplitude of lateral head displacement, slow sperm and static sperm were lower in Bovimix ® . Despite the high percentage of sperm defects in epididymal cells, regardless of the extender, we concluded that Bovimix ® is a viable alternative for the freezing of canine epididymal sperm. IntroductionDomestic dogs are not only companions but also excellent experimental models because of the similarity of the reproductive physiology with the wild species and humans. Obtaining semen directly from the epididymal tails and vas deferens is a technique that has been frequently used for the purposes of assisted reproduction (Martins et al. 2009). The process of cryopreservation may cause irreversible damage to the sperm membrane interfering with its viability. During the cryopreservation process, sperm cells are exposed to many stressors, which may be linked to thermal shock during cooling of the semen, the formation of intracellular ice crystals or osmotic shock during freezing and thawing or stress and action of cryoprotectants (Watson 2000). Therefore, choosing an extender with optimum properties for preserving sperm morphology and function may be the key to successful semen freezing. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect on sperm viability using two different extenders, a commercial bovine extender (Bovimix ® ; Nutricell Ltda,Campinas, Brazil) and the Tris extender (Martins 2005) to freeze the epididymal spermatozoa. Materials and MethodsEpididymides were obtained from 13 mixed-breed dogs (age range 2-8 years, body weight <15 kg) by elective orchiectomy. After surgery, the testicles were kept at 5°C for 24 h in saline solution. After that time, the caudal portion of each epididymis and approximately 1.0 cm of the transition of epididymal tail into the deferential duct were squeezed into a Petri dish containing Ringers solution w...

ResumoPiometra é uma afecção resultante da interação bacteriana com a hiperplasia cística do endométrio. O objetivo deste estudo foi identificar bactérias em condições de aerobiose e anaerobiose da secreção intrauterina de cadelas com piometra, presença da síndrome da resposta inflamatória sistêmica, status da cérvix, peritonite, dosagens bioquímicas séricas e comparar com o prognóstico de cadelas tratadas cirurgicamente. Utilizaram-se 15 cadelas com piometra, submetidas à ovariohisterectomia. Hemogramas e dosagens séricas de ureia, creatinina, FA e ALT foram realizados no pré-operatório imediato. Coletou-se urina por cistocentese. Após a remoção do útero e ovários, a secreção intrauterina foi aspirada; as amostras foram então cultivadas em aerobiose e anaerobiose, as amostras de urina em aerobiose. Os animais foram divididos em dois grupos, G1 (alta hospitalar em até 48 horas) e G2 (alta hospitalar após 48 horas ou óbito). Onze amostras de conteúdo intrauterino (73,3%) apresentaram crescimento bacteriano em aerobiose e anaerobiose e em uma amostra isolou-se Arizona hinshawii. Quatro amostras de urina (26,6%) tiveram crescimento bacteriano. Houve diferença significativa das variáveis status da cérvix, ureia, creatinina e fosfatase alcalina entre G1 e G2. Embora a diversidade etiológica encontrada nas culturas de conteúdo intrauterino tenha sido alta, a avaliação da azotemia, status da cérvix e dosagem de FA sérica mostraram-se bons marcadores prognósticos em cadelas com piometra. Palavras-chave: Anaerobiose; Creatinina; Hiperplasia Endometrial Cística; Microbiologia; SIRS. AbstractPyometra is a disease resulting from bacterial interaction with cystic endometrial hyperplasia. The aim of this study was to identify bacteria under aerobic and anaerobic conditions of intrauterine

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This study used infrared thermography to monitor the immediate inflammatory reaction to an intratesticular injection of 20% (calcium chloride) CaCl with 0.5% dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) for chemical castration and to provide evidence of the treatment's clinical viability. Six animals received a 0.25 mL intratesticular injection of 20% CaCl with 0.5% DMSO in each testis. Thermographic imaging, testicular measurement, penile spine evaluation, electroejaculation, and sperm analysis were performed before the injection. Eighty days post-injection, the cats were evaluated again, then received an orchiectomy followed by histological analysis. Infrared thermography of the testicular area was performed before (M0) and after anesthesia (M0A); after electroejaculation (M0E); 10 min (M1), 1 h, (M2) and 6 h (M3) after the injection for seven consecutive days (M4-10); after 15 (M11) and 30 days (M12); and after 80 days, before and after anesthesia and after electroejaculation (M13, M13A and M13E). No cats had a significant increase in testicular temperature or behavioral changes. All animals were azoospermic and had a 50% reduction in total testicular volume after 80 days. Histologically, the testes showed different degrees of degeneration, necrosis, calcification and replaced connective tissue, as well as Leydig cell hyperplasia in 7/12 of the testes. Infrared thermography efficiently diagnosed and monitored scrotal inflammation caused by intratesticular injection of 20% CaCl solution with 0.5% DMSO, and it is suggested that a single injection of this compound can cause azoospermia after 80 days. We concluded by infrared thermography with a clinical exam, that the adverse reactions were minimal and did not interfere with animal welfare.