TRU-CUT® NEEDLE ASSOCIATED WITH ULTRASOUND GUIDE FOR COLLECTING EQUINE OVARIAN BIOPSIES

Abstract

The reproductive system of the female horse is similar to that of other monogastric and ruminant species, but presents anatomical characteristics unique to the species. The approach to the reproductive system of the female horse presents the operator with anatomical barriers that hinder more detailed examinations of the organs of the reproductive system, especially the ovaries. A group of mares (n=10) was used, in which the use of a Tru-cut® needle associated with ultrasound guidance via the transvaginal route allowed the collection of ovarian material in a smaller volume compared to the conventional biopsy technique. The comparison of the microscopic images of the material collected from the group of mares in vivo with those of the post mortem control group did not differ significantly from each other (P>0.05). The tissue patterns of the collected ovarian material (cellular, turgid and collagenized), defined in the histological material, by means of microscopy, by level of cellularity and pixel staining, determined by the use of specific software, differed from each other (P<0.05), when the results were compared with those of the control group (post mortem). The degree of asymmetry, organizational level and chromatism of the cell nucleus were used for data analysis. The use of the Tru-cut® needle demonstrated a technique with representativeness in the results through the comparison of microscopic images by pixel staining. Also, no changes were observed in the reproductive physiological patterns, post-harvest, of the animals used in the experiment.