TREATMENT OF TESTICULAR DEGENERATION IN SHEEP WITH VITAMIN AND MINERAL SUPPLEMENTS OR LASER THERAPY OF LOW INTENSITY

• Grant number: 11/16744-3
• Support type: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Effective date (Start): May 01, 2012
• Effective date (End): April 30, 2014
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Veterinary Medicine - Animal Reproduction
• Principal researcher: Eneiva Carla Carvalho Celeghini
• Grantee: Maíra Bianchi Rodrigues Alves
• Home Institution: Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia (FMVZ). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The testicular degeneration can lead to subfertility, infertility or sterility of the affected sheep. The main cause of this disease is increased testicular temperature by impaired testicular thermoregulation. Although the treatment consists of removing the causative agent, the prognosis depends on the time of exposure to the offending agent and the degree of injury, thus, agents that stimulate the renewal of the seminiferous epithelium may contribute to the reversal of the situation. Supplementation with vitamin A (Vit. A), vitamin E (Vit. E), selenium (Se) and zinc (Zn), assists in the renewal of the seminiferous epithelium and decreased concentration of reactive oxygen species, so it may be used in the treatment of testicular degeneration, on the other hand the use of laser therapy (LT) of low intensity, which stimulates cellular mitosis, could also serve as an aid in reversal of testicular degeneration. This project aims to recommend a treatment for testicular degeneration in rams using vitamin and mineral supplementation or laser therapy. Will be used 24 sheep divided into 6 treatment groups: 1) control: not degenerate and untreated, 2) does not degenerate and supplemented with vit. A, vit. And, Se and Zn, 3) does not degenerate and subject to LT of low intensity, 4) degenerated and untreated, 5) degenerated and supplemented with vit. A, vit. And, Se and Zn, 6) degenerated and subject to LT of low intensity. During the trial period will be conducted weekly assessments, including: andrological examination, evaluation of testicular temperature and rectal ultrasound assessment of the parenchyma (B-mode) and testicular vascularization (Doppler mode), measurement of testosterone and cortisol. Testicular histopathological are recommended at strategic times. The data will be submitted to analysis of variance employing the statistical program Statistical Analysis System (SAS Institute Inc., 2004), with the added factor repeated measures in time, the chances of interactions with the test time will be determined by the Greenhouse-Geisse , using the repeated command generated by the GLM procedure (SAS PROC GLM). The significance level is 5%.

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

RODRIGUES ALVES, MAIRA BIANCHI; DE ARRUDA, RUBENS PAES; BATISSACO, LEONARDO; FLOREZ-RODRIGUEZ, SHIRLEY ANDREA; MARTINS DE OLIVEIRA, BRUNA MARCELE; TORRES, MARIANA ANDRADE; RAVAGNANI, GISELE MOURO; LANCONI, RENATA; DE ALMEIDA, TAMIE GUIBU; STORILLO, VANESSA MARTINS; et al. Low-level laser therapy to recovery testicular degeneration in rams: effects on seminal characteristics, scrotal temperature, plasma testosterone concentration, and testes histopathology. Lasers in Medical Science, v. 31, n. 4, p. 695-704, MAY 2016. (11/16744-3, 12/00040-0)

RODRIGUES ALVES, MAIRA BIANCHI; CESAR DE ANDRADE, ANDRE FURUGEN; DE ARRUDA, RUBENS PAES; BATISSACO, LEONARDO; FLOREZ-RODRIGUEZ, SHIRLEY ANDREA; MARTINS DE OLIVEIRA, BRUNA MARCELE; TORRES, MARIANA ANDRADE; LANCONI, RENATA; RAVAGNANI, GISELE MOURO; DO PRADO FILHO, ROBERTO ROMANO; et al. Recovery of normal testicular temperature after scrotal heat stress in rams assessed by infrared thermography and its effects on seminal characteristics and testosterone blood serum concentration. Theriogenology, v. 86, n. 3, p. 795-805, AUG 2016. (11/16744-3, 12/00040-0)

Academic Publications

(References retrieved automatically from State of São Paulo Research Institutions)

ALVES, Maíra Bianchi Rodrigues. Treatment of testicular degeneration in rams supplemented with vitamin A or low level laser therapy. 2014. Master's Dissertation - Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia (FMVZ/SBD) Pirassununga.