Effect of direct ultrasonic exposure on histopathology of ovaries, inflammatory and oxidative responses in dogs

Background: The harmful effect of ultrasonic waves on sex gonads may be a non-surgical spays method in dogs. This research was designed to evaluate the effects of ultrasound waves on ovarian germinal tissue and inflammatory cytokines (interleukin-6 (IL-6), IL1β, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α)), acute phase proteins (serum amyloid A (SAA), C reactive protein (CRP)) and oxidative stress (total antioxidant capacity (TAC), and malondialdehyde (MDA)) in dogs. Twenty six clinically healthy adult mix-breed female dogs were aligned into three groups. Laparotomy was performed in control (n=6) and treatment (T5, n=10; T10, n=10) groups. The therapeutic ultrasonic transducer was used by round motions on the ovaries (1 MHz frequency, 1.5 W⁄cm 2 ) for 5 min in T5 group and for 10 min in T10 group. Blood samples were collected from the jugular vein into plain glass tube on days 0 (before laparotomy), 3, 6 and 9 after surgery. Ovariectomy was conducted for histological evaluation on day 60. Results: : Direct exposure of ovaries with ultrasound waves induced inflammation and oxidative stress in compared with control group. Histopathological evaluation of treated ovaries with ultrasound waves indicated decrease number of primordial follicles (ovarian reserve) and oocyte preservation score in compared with controls. Conclusions: : These changes may be able to cause infertility and sterility in long term and it seems that inflammatory response and oxidative stress is a factor in the permanent damage of ovarian tissue.