Inaug.-diss.--Berlin. / Vitae curriculum.

Data from two groups of lambs were analyzed. In group one, seasonal patterns of testis growth through 16 mo of age were assessed on 40 spring-born ram lambs (eight Barbados Blackbelly, 10 Suffolk and 22 1/2-Dorset, 1/4-Finnish Landrace, 1/4-Rambouillet). Scrotal circumference (sc) and body weight (wt) were measured at mean ages of 30, 62, 96, 124, 153, 180, 212, 243, 290, 333, 364, 398, 427, 454, 488 and 517 d. A multivariate repeated measures analysis indicated that there were breed differences in ram sc and wt measurements at each age. When logistic growth curves were fit to ram sc data, breed differences were associated with parameters of the logistic curve that defined mature testis size and the period of rapid testis growth. For group two, data were collected on 1,044 lambs from 727 spring lambings over 5 years; 67 sires and 525 dams were represented. Sc and wt were measured in rams at 5 times (mean ages of 44, 63, 97, 129 and 156 d); ewes were weighed at these times and at three additional times (187, 230 and 271 d). All ewe lambs were kept for fall breeding. Fertility, prolificacy and postweaning spring mating behavior of ewes that had lambed were measured. After ewes lambed, they were exposed to vasectomized rams and checked for postweaning spring mating behavior. Restricted maximum likelihood (REML) was used to estimate variance components for additive genetic, ewe, and litter effects in group two Jambs. Heritability estimates for wt at birth to 150 d ranged from .14 to .42. Heritabilities for sc and sc scaled to the 1/3 power of body weight (rsc) ranged from .09 to .57 and from .13 to .55, respectively, and were largest at approximately 90 d. Logistic sc growth curves were fitted to data from individual ram lambs. Heritabilities of the estimated logistic parameters mature sc (A), sc maturing rate (k), age at inflection of the sc growth curve (t₁) and initial 14-d sc (SC14), were estimated at .09±.15, .17±.18, .37±.29 and .40±.14, respectively. Heritability estimates for fertility and spring mating behavior (spbrd) were .04±.13 and .41±.19, respectively. The heritability estimate for prolificacy was zero. Longitudinal additive genetic covariances among wt, sc and rsc at the second, third and fourth measurements were estimated from approximate multivariate REML analysis treating variances as known. Estimated genetic correlations among wts were largest, and ranged from. 77 to .93. Estimated genetic correlations for rsc traits were between .48 and .90. Estimated genetic correlations for sc ranged only from .10 to .67. Pairwise genetic correlations among sc or rsc with fertility or spbrd were estimated to be moderate and positive (.20 and .34, respectively); t₁ had correlations of -.32 and -.48 with fertility and spbrd, respectively. / Ph. D.

Red scrotum syndrome is a poorly understood, chronic dysesthetic erythema primarily involving the anterior scrotum. Previous reports have indicated that red scrotum syndrome is occasionally responsive to oral doxycycline and oral gabapentin. Otherwise, few therapies have proven successful in treating the disorder. We report two cases of red scrotum syndrome responding to oral pregabalin, an anticonvulsant medication commonly used for neuropathic pain. These two cases suggest pregabalin as an effective means for treating red scrotum syndrome and endorse a neuropathic etiology.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-08-15T20:30:55Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 LeonardoLMC_DISSERT.pdf: 1176741 bytes, checksum: cae29c28ee7539a3660b0db230755381 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2010-08-13 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / We evaluated the Thermoregulation of the scrotum associated with quality semen of goats grazed in the meteorological conditions of the semi-arid. 10 goats were used. There were 5 observations, with four days of interval. Five groups were formed, each group was collected in different hours (8am, 10am, 12pm, 2pm and 4pm). The skin surface body temperatures (SSBT) and the scrotum (ST), respiratory rate and rectal temperature were recorded. Heat loss by cutaneous evaporation was measured from the H2O/CO2 analyzer, in the body was used a vented cap and in the scrotum was developed a ventilated capsule adapted for that region. The area of scrotum was determined through analysis of regression. Semen was collected via an artificial vagina and evaluated macro-and microscopically. Irradiance, wind speed, air, wet bulb and black globe temperatures were recorded. The Statistical analysis was based on the method of least squares. For analysis of quality of the semen it was used a 5x5 Latin square design. The SSBT 34.5 ±0.92ºC and ST was 33.5 ±0.36ºC, showing a difference of 1ºC between those regions. The latent heat loss was 57.3 ±18.0 W.m-2 for body surface and 49.4 ±15.0 Wm-2 to the scrotum. Semen samples were considered of good quality at all times and days of collection. The conclusion was that the difference between the surface temperatures derive from a combination of mechanisms which involve thermoregulation of the scrotum, and the animals can be utilized for breeding at any time of the day. / Avaliou-se a Termorregulação da bolsa escrotal associada à qualidade do sêmen de caprinos manejados nas condições meteorológicas do semiárido. Foram utilizados 10 caprinos. Foram realizadas 5 observações, com 4 dias de intervalo entre elas. Formou-se 5 grupos, onde cada grupo era coletado em horas distintas (8, 10, 12, 14 e 16h). As temperaturas da superfície cutânea do corpo (TSPSC) e da bolsa escrotal (TSPBE) e retal e freqüência respiratória foram registradas. A perda de calor por evaporação cutânea foi mensurada a partir do analisador de H2O/CO2, no corpo foi utilizada uma cápsula ventilada e na bolsa escrotal foi desenvolvida uma cápsula ventilada adaptada para esta região. A área da bolsa escrotal foi determinada através de análise de regressão. O sêmen foi colhido através de uma vagina artificial e avaliado macro e microscopicamente. Foram registradas a irradiância, velocidade do vento e temperaturas do ar, do bulbo úmido e do globo negro. A análise estatística foi baseada no método dos quadrados mínimos. Para análise da qualidade do sêmen foi utilizado um delineamento quadrado latino 5x5. A TSPSC 34,5 ±0,92ºC e TSPBE foi 33,5 ±0,36ºC, demonstrando diferença de 1 ºC entre estas regiões. A perda de calor latente foi de 57,3 ±18,0W.m-2 para a superfície do corpo e de 49,4 ±15,0 W.m-2 para a bolsa escrotal. O semên foi considerado de boa qualidade em todos os horários e dias de coleta. Cocluiu-se que a diferença ente as temperaturas de superfícies deriva de uma associação de mecanismos que envolve a termorregulação da bolsa escrotal e que os animais podem ser utlizados para reprodução a qualquer hora do dia.