Relationship of scrotal surface temperature measured by infrared thermography to subcutaneous and deep testicular temperature in the ram

摘要

Summary. The right testis of 9 anaesthetized rams was removed from the parietal tunica vaginalis and replaced by a surrogate testis (water-filled balloon) through which water of known temperature was circulated. Thermistors were inserted in the surrogate testis, between the scrotal skin and parietal tunica vaginalis on the right side, and deep within the intact left testis. Scrotal surface temperatures over the surrogate and intact testes were measured by infrared thermography. Scrotal surface temperature was correlated (P < 0·01) with both subcutaneous (r = 0·95) and surrogate (r = 0·91) testicular temperature. The temperature differential between scrotal surface (30·1 ± 0·1°C) and deep testicular temperature over the intact side (34·9 ± 0·09°C) was 4·8°C at an ambient temperature between 24·0 and 26·6°C.