Monthly Dynamics of Plasma Elements, Hematology, Oxidative Stress Markers, and Hormonal Concentrations in Growing Male Shiba Goats (Capra hircus) Reared in Tokyo-Japan

Non-Invasive Assessment of the Intraventricular Pressure Using Novel Color M-Mode Echocardiography in Animal Studies: Current Status and Future Perspectives in Veterinary Medicine

The assessment of diastolic function has received great interest in order to comprehend its crucial role in the pathophysiology of heart failure and for the early identification of cardiac events. Silent changes in the intraventricular flow (IVF) dynamics occur before the deterioration of the cardiac wall, although they cannot be detected using conventional echocardiography. Collective information on left ventricular (LV) pressures throughout the cardiac cycle has great value when dealing with patients with altered hemodynamics. Accurate pressure measurement inside the ventricle can be obtained by invasive methods to determine the LV diastolic pressures, which reflect the myocardial relaxation and compliance. However, catheterization is only feasible in the laboratory setting and is not suitable for clinical use due to its disadvantages. In contrast, echocardiography is simple, safe, and accessible. Color M-mode echocardiography (CMME) is an advanced cardiac evaluation technique that can measure the intraventricular pressure differences (IVPDs) and intraventricular pressure gradients (IVPGs) based on the Doppler shift of the IVF. Recently, the assessment of IVPD and IVPG has gained growing interest in the cardiovascular literature in both animal and human studies as a non-invasive method for the early diagnosis of cardiac dysfunctions, especially diastolic ones. The usability of IVPD and IVPG has been reported in various surgically induced heart failure or pharmacologically altered cardiac functions in rats, dogs, cats, and goats. This report aims to give an overview of the current studies of CMME-derived IVPD and IVPG in animal studies and its feasibility for clinical application in veterinary practice and to provide the prospects of the technique's ability to improve our understanding.

Influence of goat management systems on hematological, oxidative stress profiles, and parasitic gastrointestinal infection

Background and Aim: Good management in goats is known for good quality health and increasing productivity. The physiological change studies in goats are limited despite some existing studies on the relationship of various patterns to growth rates. This study aimed to determine the hematological parameters, oxidative stress, and parasitic infection in three management systems in Thai native goats. Materials and Methods: A total of 18 male goats were randomly assigned to the three systems: The free-range model (FREE), the semi-intensive model (SEMI), and the kept-in-a-cage model (BARN) for 35 days. Blood, fecal sampling, and weight data were collected and monitored every 5 days for analysis. Results: No statistical differences were found in the FREE and SEMI groups, but significance was observed in the BARN group. The body weight of the goats gradually reduced from 13.0 ± 2.44 kg to 10.18 ± 2.61 kg (mean ± standard deviation). In contrast, the significantly increasing red blood cells, packed-cell volume, white blood cells, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte (N/L) ratio, cortisol hormone, and antioxidation profiles were observed to be higher in BARN than in FREE and SEMI groups. The intensity of the parasite eggs was remarkably significant. It was observed in the BARN group between the beginning and end of the experiment (supported by a high level of eosinophils). Conclusion: These data can be applied for the realistic evaluation and improvement of management practices, especially fully restrained management (BARN) for monitoring the health status of goats. Keywords: goat, hematology values, management systems, oxidative stress, parasites.

Seasonal Alterations in Testicular Hemodynamics and Echotexture in Relation to Semen Quality in Buffalo Bulls

The present study is aimed at investigating the usefulness of the pulsed-wave Doppler ultrasonography for the characterization of testicular blood flow in buffaloes during the nonbreeding and breeding seasons. Ten Egyptian buffalo bulls were evaluated for changes in the blood flow (Doppler’s indices: resistive index (RI) and pulsatility index (PI)) at the levels of supratesticular (STA) during the breeding (winter) and nonbreeding season (summer). The alterations in testicular parenchyma echotexture (pixel intensity (PIX) and echotexture heterogeneity (EH)) were assessed by computer analysis software. Circulating testosterone and nitric oxide (NO) concentrations and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) were measured colorimetrically. Sperm parameters including total and progressive motility %, viability %, morphology %, and concentrations were assessed. Results revealed lower values ( $p<0.05$ ) of RI ( $0.55\pm 0.02$ ) and PI ( $0.82\pm 0.03$ ) within the STA in the breeding period compared to the nonbreeding period (RI: $0.67\pm 0.03$ ; PI: $0.99\pm 0.01$ ). Higher ( $p<0.05$ ) PIX and EH were found in the nonbreeding season (PIX: $72.09\pm 1.81$ ; EH: $14.99\pm 1.37$ ) compared to the breeding season (PIX: $60.95\pm 1.51$ ; EH: $11.75\pm 0.63$ ). Concentrations of testosterone and TAC were not significantly changed. However, the concentrations of NO were greater ( $p<0.05$ ) during the breeding season ( $78.21\pm 0.87$ ) compared to those of the nonbreeding one ( $59.74\pm 2.97$ ). Total motility %, progressive motility %, viability %, and sperm concentrations were higher during the breeding season compared to that during the nonbreeding season ( $p<0.05$ ). In conclusion, seasonality alters testicular hemodynamics and echotexture, NO concentrations, and sperm quality in buffaloes without alterations in the testosterone and TAC levels.

Novel color M-mode echocardiography for non-invasive assessment of the intraventricular pressure in goats: Feasibility, repeatability, and the effect of sedation

Background

The intraventricular pressure difference (IVPD) and intraventricular pressure gradients (IVPG), estimated from color M-mode echocardiography (CMME) of the transmitral flow, have been introduced as novel indices for the evaluation of heart functions. Until now, no study demonstrated the feasibility of the CMME approach to measure IVPD and IVPG in any farm animals. The aim of this study was to assess the feasibility and repeatability of CMME-derived IVPD and IVPG variables in goats and explore the effect of sedation on the measured variables.

Materials and methods

Sixteen male Shiba goats were included in this study and underwent conventional echocardiography. Eight goats were used in the repeatability of IVPD/IVPG variables. Another eight goats were used to evaluate the effect of sedation by xylazine on IVPD/IVPG measurements. CMME between the base and the apex of the left ventricle was carried out. The IVPD and IVPG were analyzed using in-house code software. The IVPD and IVPG were expressed as total, basal, mid-to-apical, mid, and apical segments. Data analysis including the imaging quality score (IQS), repeatability, variability, intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), as well as the effect size of sedation on the measured variables was calculated.

Results

IVPD and IVPG variables from CMME were feasible in all goats. Low to moderate variability of IVPD and IVPG variables was observed (CV 95% <25%) except for the apical IVPD and apical IVPG. The IVPD/IVPG measurements were repeatable without a significant effect of animal or time on the obtained measurements. The overall ICC was higher than 0.75 in all variables except for the apical segment. Xylazine administration reduced the total, basal, and mid parts of IVPD and IVPG with a large effect size (biserial ranked correlation; rc > 0.8).

Conclusion

We reported, for the first time, IVPD and IVPG measurements by CMME in goats. The assessment of IVPD and IVPG by CMME is feasible in goats which can be evaluated in further cardiovascular or pharmacological studies in this species.

Coenzyme Q10 Supplementation enhances testicular volume and hemodynamics, reproductive hormones, sperm quality, and seminal antioxidant capacity in goat bucks under summer hot humid conditions

Oxidative stress (OS) is brought on by heat stress (HS), which weakens antioxidant defense and initiates OS. Since mitochondria are the primary source of reactive oxygen species (ROS), HS-mediated OS may be lessened by targeting mitochondria with particular antioxidants. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of oral coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) supplementation on the reproductive performance of goat bucks under HS conditions. Ten mature bucks were randomly separated into two groups and housed in an environment with a high-temperature humidity index (THI: 88.3 to 94.8; summer season). The first group (n = 5) got the baseline diet while the second group (n = 5) received supplemental oral CoQ10 (3 mg/kg BW; CoQ10 group) daily for six weeks. Testicular blood flow parameters (TBF), testicular volume (TV) and echogenicity (TE), nitric oxide (NO), seminal alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and catalase (CAT) activities, total antioxidant capacity (TAC), malondialdehyde (MDA) content, and semen quality traits were all measured. The examinations started a week before (W-1), on the first supplementation day (W0), and weekly for eight consecutive weeks (W1-W8). There were marked (P < 0.05) increases in TBF (W3-W6) and TV, and a decrease in TE (W3-W5) in the CoQ10 group compared to the CON group. Similarly, testosterone (T) and NO levels (W3-W5) in the CoQ10 group were higher (P < 0.05) than those of the control group. The CoQ10 group demonstrated significant (P < 0.05) increases in seminal CAT (W4-W8) and TAC (W2-W6) activities and decreases in ALT (W4-W7) activity and MDA (W5-W8) concentration as compared to the control group. The CoQ10 group showed improvements (P < 0.05) at W3-W6 for sperm progressive motility, viability, and normal morphology and at W6-W8 for sperm concentration. In conclusion, oral CoQ10 supplementation improved testicular hemodynamics, testosterone production, semen quality, and antioxidant capacity in goat bucks during summer heat stress conditions.