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Reproduction, Fertility and Development Reproduction, Fertility and Development Society
Vertebrate reproductive science and technology
RESEARCH ARTICLE

186 QUANTITATIVE ECHOGENICITY AND ECHOTEXTURE ANALYSIS OF THE ACCESSORY SEX GLANDS OF PUBERTAL AND MATURE DORPER RAMS

E. S. C. Camela A , R. P. Nociti A , V. J. C. Santos A , B. I. Macente A , G. S. Maciel A , M. A. R. Feliciano A , W. R. R. Vicente A , P. M. Bartlewski B and M. E. F. Oliveira A
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A FCAV–UNESP, Jaboticabal, SP, Brazil;

B University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada

Reproduction, Fertility and Development 28(2) 224-224 https://doi.org/10.1071/RDv28n2Ab186
Published: 3 December 2015

Abstract

This study aimed to analyse the ultrasonographic attributes of vesicular, prostate, and bulbourethral glands in pubertal and mature Dorper rams. Forty-five rams were used in the same day (pubertal: 8–11 months, n = 24; mature: ≥12 months, n = 21). The B-mode ultrasounds examinations were performed using MyLab 30Vet equipment (Esaote, Naples, Italy) connected to transrectal linear transducer (frequency of 7.5 MHz). The echogenicity [(mean numerical pixel values (NPV)] and pixel heterogeneity (standard deviation of NPV) of accessory sex glands parenchymas was determined by computerised image analysis using Image ProPlus® software (Media Cybernetics Inc., Rockville, MD, USA). For the pairs organs a mean for each parameter were calculated. Data were analysed by ANOVA with Tukey test (mean ± s.d.; P < 0.05), after the normality and homoscedasticity of residuals were checked with Shapiro-Wilk test and Levene test, respectively, when necessary log-transformation was applied. All statistical procedures was performed with R® software. The echogenicity of parenchymas were different (P < 0.05) between pubertal and mature rams for vesicular glands (181.51 ± 20.80 v. 164.83 ± 26.79) and bulbourethral glands (166.93 ± 16.93 v. 141.80 ± 29.15); however, there was no difference (P > 0.05) for prostate glands (99.39 ± 36.34 v. 87.47 ± 34.24). The pixel heterogeneity did not differ (P > 0.05) between pubertal and mature rams (29.06 ± 2.67 v. 28.09 ± 3.95, 32.14 ± 8.20 v. 30.28 ± 4.71, and 27.82 ± 4.53 v. 28.74 ± 4.29) for vesicular, prostate, and bulbourethral glands, respectively. In conclusion, the sexual maturity only influenced the echogenicity of vesicular and bulbourethral parenchymas of Dorper rams.