RT Journal Article
T1 Evaluation of testicular echotexture with Ecotext as a diagnostic method of testicular dysfunction in stallions
A1 Da Silva-Álvarez, Eva
A1 Gaitskell-Phil, Gemma
A1 Ortiz-Rodríguez, José Manuel
A1 Serres Dalmau, María Consolacion
A1 García-Rodríguez, Benito
A1 Gutiérrez Cepeda, Luna
A1 Martín-Cano, Francisco
A1 Echegaray, Arantxa
A1 Escartin-Casas, Nicolas
A1 Requena, Francisco
A1 Gil, María Cruz
A1 Peña, Fernando
A1 Ortega-Ferrusola, Cristina
AB This study aimed to assess if Ecotext, a new software for evaluation of testicular echotexture, is a good method for diagnosis of stallions with testicular dysfunction (TD). Relationships between Ecotext parameters and sperm motility and production, testicular volume, and testicular blood flow were also studied. Ecotext provides a total of six echotexture parameters: Ecotext 1 (black pixels), 2 (white pixels) and 3 (grey pixels), and another 3 parameters related to hypoechogenic areas: Ecotext tubular density (ETD), Ecotext tubular diameter (ETd), and Ecotext tubular area (ETA). Stallions (n = 33) were assessed using proven diagnostic techniques (spermiogram, B-mode and Pulse Doppler ultrasound), and subsequent analysis with Ecotext. Animals were classified as “control stallions” (n:21, acceptable semen quality), and “stallions with TD” (n:12, poor semen quality (TM < 60%, PM < 45% and total nº of sperm with PM < 2000 × 106 spz), that were subdivided into “induced TD group” (immunized, anti-GnRH vaccine) and “acquired TD group”. The acquired TD group showed differences in all Ecotext parameters in relation to controls (Ecotext 1:0.11 ± 0.17 vs 2.82 ± 2.52, Ecotext 2:1584.0 ± 575.8 vs 388 ± 368.2, Ecotext 3:134.2 ± 9.26; ETA: 2.14 ± 0.59 vs 5.40 ± 1.90; ETd: 65.66 ± 6.27 vs 86.93 ± 10.65 and ETD: 92.35 ± 11.24 vs 132.10 ± 16.35, p ≤ 0.001). Results suggest acquired TD stallions were suffering testicular degeneration with loss of architecture and function as all Ecotext parameters were altered in relation to controls. Induced TD horses only showed a reduction in ETD (116.2 ± 8.59 vs 132.10 ± 16.35, p ≤ 0.001), despite all sperm parameters being worse. These findings suggested immunized stallions probably only experience an acute loss of testicular functionality and parenchyma architecture is likely not affected since differences in Ecotext parameters with control stallions were not detected. ETD was the best parameter to identify animals with TD (AUC: 0.84, optimal cut-off value of 124.3 seminiferous tubules/cm2). Correlations were found between ETD and Doppler indices (PI: 0.60; RI: 0.47 p ≤ 0.001), total testicular volume (r: 0.48; p ≤ 0.05) and sperm motility (TM:0.51; and PM:0.54; p ≤ 0.001) and production (r:0.51; p ≤ 0.001). In summary, Ecotext could identify changes in testicular echotexture of stallions with TD. Results open the possibility for new research focused on establishing the relationship between Ecotext parameters and histomorphometry features in stallion testes.
PB Elsevier
SN 0093-691X
YR 2022
FD 2022
LK https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/100152
UL https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/100152
LA eng
NO Da Silva-Álvarez E, Gaitskell-Phil G, Ortiz-Rodríguez JM, Serres C, García-Rodríguez B, Gutiérrez-Cepeda L, Martín-Cano FE, Echegaray A, Escartin-Casas N, Requena F, Gil MC,  Peña FJ, Ortega-Ferrusola C. Evaluation of testicular echotexture with Ecotext as a diagnostic method of testicular dysfunction in stallions: Theriogenology. 2022 Jun 185:50-60.
NO Credit authorship contribution statementE. Da Silva-Alvarez:   performed experiments and, Methodology. J.M. Ortiz-Rodríguez: performed experiments and, Methodology. G. Gaitskell-Phillips: English review (native speaker), Writing ereview & editing, Software. C. Serres: Formal analysis, performed the analysis of data, Validation, and, Writing - review & editing, Writing - original draft. B. García-Rodríguez: Formal analysis, performed the analysis of data, Validation, and, Writing - review & editing. L. Gutierrez-Cepeda:   performed experiments and English, Writing - review & editing. F.E. Martín- Cano: Methodology, and, Data curation. A. Echegaray: Formal analysis, performed the analysis of data with Ecotext, Validation,  N. Escartin-Casas: Formal analysis, performed the analysis of data with Ecotext, Validation, and, Writing - review & editing, Writing e originaldraft. F. Requena: Formal analysis, statisticalstadistical analysis, Data curation. M.C. Gil: performed experiments and, Methodology.F.J. Pena: ~ Conceptualization, Validation, and, Writing - review & editing. C. Ortega-Ferrusola: Conceptualization, conceived the study, Supervision, Formal analysis, and roles, Writing - original draft.
NO Ministerio de Ciencias, Innovación y Universidades (España)
NO Junta de Extremadura
NO European Commission
DS Docta Complutense
RD 21 abr 2025