Derar

Reference values for the genitalia of male dromedary before and after puberty using caliper and ultrasonography in subtropics.

The aim of the present study was to characterize the dynamic changes of the testes and the pelvic genitalia in vivo in male dromedary. Eighty-one clinically healthy male dromedaries aged 1.5 to 12 years were assigned for the present study. Testicular length, breadth, and depth as well as epididymal head and tail were measured using caliper and ultrasonography. The pelvic genitalia, including bulbourethral gland, prostate, and pelvic urethra were examined using ultrasonography. The results revealed that the three dimensions of the testes and epididymal tail and head showed significant increase with age (P < 0.01). Concerning the epididymal measurements, differences between the pre- and peri-pubertal groups were not significant. Left testes tended to be larger than the right (not statistically significant) although only the breadth of the left testes in the prepubertal group was significantly larger (P < 0.05). The volume of both testes correlated positively with the age (r(2) = 0.91 for left and 1.00 for the right, P < 0.01). There were no significant correlations between the values measured using caliper and those by ultrasonography between groups, but the correlation was highly significant (P < 0.01) for the total number of the examined animals. There were significant and steady increases of the size of bulbourethral gland in all examined groups (P < 0.01). Pars disseminata of the prostate gland and pelvic urethra were significantly higher in sexually mature compared with prepubertal groups (P < 0.01). It was concluded that ultrasonography is a useful tool in studying the developmental changes of the testes and accessory glands of the male dromedary. The obtained data could provide a reference values for predicting camel puberty and future fertility.

Conceptual Orientation: A Unique Phenomenon of the Equine Pregnancy

There is a clear fact that the reproductive system of the domestic animals is subjected to rhythmic changes throughout the life of the animal and that make them unique among other body systems. The intimate relationship between the fetal membranes and the conceptus represent the cornerstone for the dynamic changes during the gestation period. Estrogen, progesterone and other ovarian steroids exerts a strict control over the function of the hypothalamus and the pituitary gland. Orientation occurs between the time of fixation and the appearance of the irregular shapes. Factors are believed to interact during orientation are thick (three-layered) and thin (two-layered) portions of the yolk-sac wall; asymmetrical encroachment from thickening of the upper turgid uterine wall on each side of the mesometrial attachment; and the massaging action of uterine contractions. The interaction of these factors results in the thickest portion of the yolk sac wall (embryonic pole) rotating to a ventral position (antimesometrial). It can be suggested that orientation is a unique phenomenon of the equine conceptus. Much speculation has been suggested about its significance but the fact that it is still unclear what is the exact role of this phenomenon during the early life of the equine fetus.

Effect of exogenous estradiol Benzoate on uterine blood flow in postpartum dairy cows

The objective of this study was to assess the uterine blood flow following estradiol benzoate administration in Holstein-Friesian dairy cows by trans-rectal color Doppler ultrasonography. Six healthy lactating Holstein-Friesian cows were examined daily for 10 days starting at 4 weeks postpartum. All the cows, which were clinically healthy based on vaginal mucus scoring and endometrial cytology, were examined by trans-rectal Doppler ultrasonography to measure pulsatility index (PI), resistance index (RI), time average maximum velocity (TAMAX), blood flow volume (BFV) and diameter in the uterine arteries ipsilateral and contralateral to the previously pregnant uterine horn. On the third day of the experiment, the six cows were administered 10 mg intramuscular injection of estradiol-17β (E2).Blood samples were collected at the time of daily examination for the assessment ofE2concentrations.The PI and RI values decreased while TAMAX, BFV and diameter of uterine arteries increased in response toE2 administration (P < 0.05).There was a high correlation between both the ipsilateral and contralateral uterine arteries for all variables that were studied(r = 0.860, P < 0.0001, r = 0.922, P < 0.0001, r = 0.651, P < 0.0001, r = 0.879, P < 0.0001, r = 0.861, P < 0.0001 for the PI, RI, TAMAX, BFV and uterine arteries diameter, respectively).In conclusion, the greater blood concentrations ofE2may be responsible for the greater TAMAX, BFV, increased diameters and decreased PI and RI of the uterine arteries during the puerperium in dairy cows.

Azoospermia in male dromedary: Clinical findings, testicular biopsy, serum follicle stimulating hormone and seminal biomarkers

Azoospermia is not an uncommon infertility problem in the male dromedary (Camelus dromedarius). Azoospermia was investigated via clinical findings, testicular biopsy as well as the evaluation of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), concentration of camel testis protein (TEX101) and camel epididymis-specific extracellular matrix protein (ECM1) in seminal fluids. Azoospermic male camels (AZOO group, n = 28) that had been detected to be infertile as a result of lack of resulting pregnancies after repeated matings for at least one season were included in this study. Clinical examination, semen analysis and testicular biopsy sampling were conducted for each individual animal. Blood samples were collected from the AZOO and from reference fertile males (FERT group, n = 8) for the assay of FSH hormone and semen biomarkers (TEX101 and ECM1). There were bilaterally normal-sized testes in 42.8%, bilaterally small-sized testes in 35.7%, bilaterally large-sized testes in 7.1%, no testicles in 7.1% and only one testicle in 7.1% of azoospermic animals. Sertoli cell-only syndrome (SCO) and maturation arrest were observed in 78.6% and 21.4% of the animals, respectively. There were greater concentrations of FSH in the AZOO group compared with the FERT group (P  = 0.01). In conclusion, azoospermia in dromedary camels is mainly associated with spermatogenic defects and greater serum FSH concentrations. Seminal biomarkers, therefore, might be feasible indicators for identifying azoospermia in the male dromedary camels and the condition of non-obstructive azoospermia was seemingly prevalent in the male dromedary camels in the present study.

Renal Cell Carcinoma in A Female Arabian Camel

This report describes the clinical, haematobiochemical, ultrasonographical and pathological findings in a female Arabian camel with renal cell carcinoma. The she camel had a history of weight loss, abdominal pain and red urine. Rectal palpation revealed an enlarged mass at the right kidney which distorted its normal conformation. Centrifugation of a urine sample yielded red sediment. Alterations in haematological and biochemical parameters included a decreased hematocrit per cent, red blood cell counts, haemoglobin concentration, total protein, albumin and globulin, and increased glucose, creatinine, sodium and potassium concentrations. Increase in the serum activity of aspartate aminotransferase and creatine kinase were also detected. Ultrasonographically, a caudally protruded, large, irregular shaped, hypoechoic and cavitated mass involving the right renal parenchyma was monitored. However, the left kidney subjectively appeared normal. At necropsy, haemorrhagic, irregular shaped and cavitated tumour involving the right kidney was detected. The right kidney was mostly pelvic. Compared to a weight of 1.5 Kg of the left, the right kidney weighed 18 Kg. Histopathologically, renal cell carcinoma showing tubular differentiation with malignant epithelial lining and nuclear anaplasia was suggested. No metastasis was found in other organs.