151272 20251017144606.0 doi 10.3390/ani15030402 sideral 143055 ART-2025-143055 eng Vitoria, Arantza Universidad de Zaragoza (orcid)0000-0003-1286-4968 Laparoscopic Inguinal Hernioplasty with a Polyether Ether Ketone Anchoring Device in Intact Male Horses Does Not Compromise Testicular Perfusion, Sperm Production or Motility Characteristics 2025 Access copy available to the general public Unrestricted A new surgical technique using a polyether ether ketone (PEEK) anchoring device for testicle-sparing laparoscopic inguinal hernioplasty in stallions was described in 2023 and is known as the PEEK harpoon technique (PHT). In breeding stallions, it is essential that the surgery is effective in preventing inguinal hernia but also that it does not impair the testicular function. This study aims to evaluate whether the PHT may affect testicular function. To achieve that, changes in the testicular blood flow, sperm production and motility characteristics were assessed 28 days after use of the PHT. Standing laparoscopic hernioplasty using the PHT was performed unilaterally in eight healthy (non-previously herniated) experimental intact males. The contralateral inguinal canals and testicles were used as control. Pre- and post-surgery Doppler ultrasonographic evaluations of testicular perfusion were performed serially. Bilateral castration was performed at 28 days post-surgery, and epididymal sperm were obtained from both testicles to analyze seminal characteristics. No significant differences were identified in regard to testicular perfusion and the sperm characteristics of the control and operated testicles, suggesting that the PHT-based hernioplasty would not compromise testicular function. Further studies evaluating effects over a longer period are needed, but our data indicate that the PHT is suitable for testicle-sparing inguinal laparoscopic hernioplasties in breeding stallions with a history or predisposing factors of inguinal herniation. info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess by https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/deed.es info:eu-repo/semantics/article info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion Barrachina, Laura Universidad de Zaragoza (orcid)0000-0001-9818-508X Romero, Antonio Universidad de Zaragoza (orcid)0000-0001-7188-0461 Fuente, Sara Universidad de Zaragoza de Blas, Ignacio Universidad de Zaragoza (orcid)0000-0002-1204-4356 Gil, Lydia Universidad de Zaragoza (orcid)0000-0002-0797-1841 Vázquez, Francisco José Universidad de Zaragoza (orcid)0000-0002-8712-2275 1001 420 Universidad de Zaragoza Dpto. Anatom.,Embri.Genét.Ani. Área Genética 1009 773 Universidad de Zaragoza Dpto. Patología Animal Área Sanidad Animal 1009 617 Universidad de Zaragoza Dpto. Patología Animal Área Medicina y Cirugía Animal 15, 3 (2025), 402 [9 pp.] Animals (Basel) Animals 2076-2615 227015 http://zaguan.unizar.es/record/151272/files/texto_completo.pdf Versión publicada 2792683 http://zaguan.unizar.es/record/151272/files/texto_completo.jpg?subformat=icon icon Versión publicada oai:zaguan.unizar.es:151272 articulos driver 2025-10-17-14:15:20 ARTICLE