Scrotal thermoregulation and sequential sperm abnormalities in buffalo bulls (Bubalus bubalis) under short-term heat stress

Gonçalves, A. A.; Garcia, Alexandre Rossetto; Filho, S. T. Rolim; Silva, Jamile Andréa Rodrigues da; Melo, Dayana Neves de; Guimarães, Thiago Castro; Tavares, Héliton Ribeiro; Silva, Thiago Velasco Guimarães; Souza, Eduardo Baia de; Santos, Simone do Socorro Damasceno; Ohashi, Otávio Mitio

doi:10.1016/j.jtherbio.2021.102842

Cited by 12 publications

(16 citation statements)

References 53 publications

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“…Global warming is one of the most common topics in the world public opinion these days, with many adverse environmental consequences, especially in the field of animal reproduction competence. Environmental thermal stress (TS) triggers oxidative stress (OS) cascade and deteriorates semen quality and fertilizing potential in rams ( 1 , 2 ), Holstein bulls ( 3 ), Shiba goats ( 4 ), rabbit bucks ( 5 ), and buffalo bulls ( 6 ). In rams, elevated testicular temperature induces OS, which in turn diminishes both sperm motility and viability and increases total sperm abnormalities ( 7 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Exogenous L-carnitine Administration Ameliorates the Adverse Effects of Heat Stress on Testicular Hemodynamics, Echotexture, and Total Antioxidant Capacity in Rams

2022

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Heat stress (HS) diminishes the testicular antioxidant defense systems, which adversely affect the testicular blood perfusion. Improving the testicular hemodynamics during HS conditions is of a great impact on the whole reproductive performance in rams. This study aimed to evaluate the ameliorative effects of L-carnitine (LC) on the testicular blood flow and echotextures and also on the total antioxidants (TAC) and nitric oxide (NO) concentrations in the serum during HS conditions in rams. Testicular blood flow was evaluated through scanning of the supra-testicular artery (STA) spectral patterns through pulsed Doppler ultrasonography [peak systolic velocity (PSV), end-diastolic velocity (EDV), time average maximum velocity (TAMAX), resistive index (RI), and pulsatility index (PI)], while the echotexture assessment of testicular parenchyma was performed by a computerized software program. Moreover, TAC and NO concentrations were assayed colorimetrically using the spectrophotometer. There were significant decreases (P < 0.05) in values of PSV at 48 and 168 h (23.45 ± 0.39 and 23.37 ± 1.41 cm/s, respectively), and TAMAX at 1, 48, and 168 h (17.65 ± 0.95, 17.5 ± 0.13, and 16.9 ± 1.05 cm/s, respectively) after LC administration compared to just before administration (31.92 ± 1.13 and 21.58 ± 0.92 cm/s, respectively). Values of RI and PI of the examined STA significantly decreased, especially at 1 h for RI (0.45 ± 0.02) and 1 and 48 h for PI (0.66 ± 0.06 and 0.65 ± 0.05, respectively) after LC treatment to 0 h (0.55 ± 0.03 and 0.84 ± 0.06, respectively). The EDV values did not show any significant (P < 0.05) changes in all the experimental time points. There were significant (P < 0.05) increases in the values of pixel intensity of the testicular parenchyma, especially at 1 and 168 h (78.71 ± 2.50 and 88.56 ± 4.10, respectively) after LC administration, compared to just before administration (69.40 ± 4.75). Serum NO levels tend to increase after LC administration (P = 0.07) concerning just before administration. While TAC values showed significant gradual increase and reached the highest values at 168 h (2.75 ± 0.58 mM/l) after LC administration, compared to 0 h (1.12 ± 0.05 mM/l). In conclusion, exogenous LC administration ameliorates testicular hemodynamic disruptions, as measured by spectral Doppler ultrasonography, via augmentation of the rams' total antioxidant capacity under HS conditions.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Exogenous L-carnitine Administration Ameliorates the Adverse Effects of Heat Stress on Testicular Hemodynamics, Echotexture, and Total Antioxidant Capacity in Rams

2022

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“…The skin of this species is rich in melanin, with high levels of absorbance, but because it has few hair follicles and sweat glands, these animals are susceptible to thermal stress due to the enormous amounts of solar radiation their bodies absorb under natural conditions [ 22 , 68 ]. This explains the adaptive behavior of buffaloes that prefer to stay in shady areas or wallow in muddy ponds as those conditions foster heat loss from the dermal surface [ 69 , 70 ]. Shade reduces the heat load and the direct solar radiation that the skin surface receives.…”

Section: Differences In Thermoregulation Strategies Between Animals With Feathers Hair and Glabrous Skinmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…As this document suggests, one possible limitation of applying IRT is the presence of hair, feathers, or glabrous skin because these structures alter thermal exchange and affect the levels of radiation that bodies emit in extreme climates. These elements need to be considered to interpret the thermal states of animals correctly [ 69 ]. In addition, the anatomical and morphological differences highlighted in this paper show the need to validate specific thermal windows for different species—and even different breeds of the same species—since research shows that the type of protective layer, its color, density, length, and form, can all influence interpretations of IRT images [ 135 , 136 ].…”

Section: Perspectives On the Use Of Irt And Species-specific Thermal For Animals With Distinct Integumentary Structuresmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Using IRT, the evidence discussed above highlights the importance of evaluating temperature in animals at the central level and on the surface—a tool that can provide information on the physiological and behavioral responses that animals adopt in extreme climates and permit the detection of peripheral circulatory changes caused by infectious and inflammatory pathologies [ 69 ]. It is advisable to implement continuous, automated temperature monitoring of production animals or those in clinical conditions because it can opportunely quantify alterations in the temperature of animals and associate them with pathological processes and physiological parameters such as the heart or respiratory rate [ 132 , 133 , 134 ].…”

Section: Perspectives On the Use Of Irt And Species-specific Thermal For Animals With Distinct Integumentary Structuresmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Efficacy and Function of Feathers, Hair, and Glabrous Skin in the Thermoregulation Strategies of Domestic Animals

Mota-Rojas

Titto

Geraldo

et al. 2021

Animals

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The objective of this review is to describe and analyze the effect of feathers, hair, and glabrous (hairless) skin on the thermoregulation of domestic and endotherm animals, especially concerning the uses and scope of infrared thermography (IRT), scientific findings on heat and cold stress, and differences among species of domestic animals. Clinical medicine considers thermoregulation a mechanism that allows animals to adapt to varying thermal environmental conditions, a process in which the presence of feathers, hair, or glabrous skin influences heat loss or heat retention, respectively, under hot and cold environmental conditions. Evaluating body temperature provides vital information on an individual’s physiological state and health status since variations in euthermia maintenance in vertebrates reflect a significant cellular metabolism deviation that needs to be assessed and quantified. IRT is a non-invasive tool for evaluating thermal responses under thermal stress conditions in animals, where the presence or absence of feathers, hair, and glabrous skin can affect readings and the differences detected. Therefore, anatomical regions, the characteristics of feathers, hair, glabrous skin such as structure, length, color, and extension, and strategies for dissipating or retaining heat together constitute a broad area of opportunity for future research into the phenomena of dermal thermoregulation in domestic species.

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“…The recent studies have shown the negative effects of heat stress on dairy buffaloes ( 23 – 25 ), with significant changes in milk composition and industrial yield such as reduced contents of fat, protein, lactose, and total solids ( 26 – 29 ). In addition, the negative effects of heat stress have been reported on conception rates, which decrease when temperature-humidity index values are above 80 ( 30 – 32 ), and on semen quality, with decreased percentage of live spermatozoa and increased abnormal sperm population ( 33 – 36 ). Heat stress also impairs the immune response, affecting the gene expression of cytokines and their receptors ( 37 , 38 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Dynamics of Thermolysis and Skin Microstructure in Water Buffaloes Reared in Humid Tropical Climate—A Microscopic and Thermographic Study

et al. 2022

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The thermolytic capacity test is used to assess the adaptability of animals to existing environmental conditions. However, there is insufficient information on the relationship between histomorphometry and adaptability of buffaloes. Thus, this study aimed to assess the use of thermolysis pathways by buffaloes reared in a hot and humid environment so as to understand the relationships between environment, skin morphological characteristics, and heat storage, as well as the intensity and proportionality of use of its ways of dissipating heat to maintain homeothermy. The heat tolerance test, associated with the evaluations via infrared thermography, was applied to 10 female Murrah buffaloes and tegument histomorphometry was carried out. The animals exhibited very high heat tolerance with an average of 9.66 ± 0.21 and used thermal polypnea as the main heat dissipation pathway. Their mean skin thickness was 6.03 ± 1.16 mm and the active sweat and sebaceous gland tissue were 1.57 ± 0.38% and 1.08 ± 0.39%, respectively. The buffaloes exhibited a positive correlation between eyeball temperature and internal body temperature (r = 0.84523, p < 0.0001) and a negative correlation between respiratory rate and skin thickness (r = −0.73371, p = 0.0157). The high thermolytic capacity in shade conditions confirms the importance of access to shade in buffalo rearing systems in tropical regions.

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Scrotal thermoregulation and sequential sperm abnormalities in buffalo bulls (Bubalus bubalis) under short-term heat stress

Cited by 12 publications

References 53 publications

Exogenous L-carnitine Administration Ameliorates the Adverse Effects of Heat Stress on Testicular Hemodynamics, Echotexture, and Total Antioxidant Capacity in Rams

Exogenous L-carnitine Administration Ameliorates the Adverse Effects of Heat Stress on Testicular Hemodynamics, Echotexture, and Total Antioxidant Capacity in Rams

Efficacy and Function of Feathers, Hair, and Glabrous Skin in the Thermoregulation Strategies of Domestic Animals

Dynamics of Thermolysis and Skin Microstructure in Water Buffaloes Reared in Humid Tropical Climate—A Microscopic and Thermographic Study

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