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Hess RA, Park CJ, Soto S, Reinacher L, Oh JE, Bunnell M, Ko CJ. Male animal sterilization: history, current practices, and potential methods for replacing castration. Front Vet Sci 2024; 11:1409386. [PMID: 39027909 PMCID: PMC11255590 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2024.1409386] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2024] [Accepted: 06/10/2024] [Indexed: 07/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Sterilization and castration have been synonyms for thousands of years. Making an animal sterile meant to render them incapable of producing offspring. Castration or the physical removal of the testes was discovered to be the most simple but reliable method for managing reproduction and sexual behavior in the male. Today, there continues to be global utilization of castration in domestic animals. More than six hundred million pigs are castrated every year, and surgical removal of testes in dogs and cats is a routine practice in veterinary medicine. However, modern biological research has extended the meaning of sterilization to include methods that spare testis removal and involve a variety of options, from chemical castration and immunocastration to various methods of vasectomy. This review begins with the history of sterilization, showing a direct link between its practice in man and animals. Then, it traces the evolution of concepts for inducing sterility, where research has overlapped with basic studies of reproductive hormones and the discovery of testicular toxicants, some of which serve as sterilizing agents in rodent pests. Finally, the most recent efforts to use the immune system and gene editing to block hormonal stimulation of testis function are discussed. As we respond to the crisis of animal overpopulation and strive for better animal welfare, these novel methods provide optimism for replacing surgical castration in some species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rex A. Hess
- Department of Comparative Biosciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, United States
- Epivara, Inc, Champaign, IL, United States
| | - Chan Jin Park
- Department of Comparative Biosciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, United States
- Epivara, Inc, Champaign, IL, United States
| | | | | | - Ji-Eun Oh
- Department of Comparative Biosciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, United States
| | - Mary Bunnell
- Department of Comparative Biosciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, United States
| | - CheMyong J. Ko
- Department of Comparative Biosciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, United States
- Epivara, Inc, Champaign, IL, United States
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Baqerkhani M, Soleimanzadeh A, Mohammadi R. Effects of intratesticular injection of hypertonic mannitol and saline on the quality of donkey sperm, indicators of oxidative stress and testicular tissue pathology. BMC Vet Res 2024; 20:99. [PMID: 38468237 PMCID: PMC10926677 DOI: 10.1186/s12917-024-03915-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2023] [Accepted: 02/05/2024] [Indexed: 03/13/2024] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The aim of the present study was to examine donkey sperm quality after intratesticular injection of hypertonic mannitol (HM) and saline (HS). METHODS Randomly assigned to five treatment groups were 15 adult male donkeys: (1) Control group (no treatment), (2) Surgery group (surgical castration for testosterone control), (3) NS group (normal saline intratesticular injection), (4) HS group (hypertonic saline), and (5) HM group. We injected 20 mL per testicle. We took 5 mL blood from all donkeys before injection. Castration was performed under general anesthesia 60 days later. Samples included blood and testicular tissue. Total motility (TM), progressive motility (PM), movementy features, DNA damage, morphology, viability, and plasma membrane functionality were evaluated. Hormone analyses, histomorphometric studies and oxidative stress indices including total antioxidant capacity (TAC), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA), and NADP+/NADPH were evaluated. Apoptosis, pyroptosis-related Bax, Caspase-1, GSDMD, and Bcl-2 expression were also assessed. RESULTS In HS and HM groups, testosterone, epididymal sperm count, motility, viability, and plasma membrane functionality dropped while sperm DNA damage increased. HS and HM groups had significantly lower histomorphometric parameters, TAC, GPx, SOD, GSH, and Bcl-2 gene expression. MDA, NADP+/NADPH, Bax, Caspase-1, and GSDMD gene expression were substantially higher in the HS and HM groups than in the control group. CONCLUSIONS Toxic effects of hypertonic saline and mannitol on reproductive parameters were seen following, hence, they might be considered as a good chemical sterilizing treatment in donkeys.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammadreza Baqerkhani
- Department of Theriogenology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Urmia University, P.O. Box: 57561-51818, Urmia, Iran
| | - Ali Soleimanzadeh
- Department of Theriogenology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Urmia University, P.O. Box: 57561-51818, Urmia, Iran.
| | - Rahim Mohammadi
- Department of Surgery and Diagnostic Imaging, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Urmia University, Urmia, Iran
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Coimbra JLP, Dantas GDPF, de Andrade LM, Brener MRG, Viana PIM, Lopes RA, O G Gontijo D, Ervilha LOG, Assis MQ, Barcelos LS, E Szawka R, Damasceno DC, Machado-Neves M, Mota AP, Costa GMJ. Gold nanoparticle intratesticular injections as a potential animal sterilization tool: Long-term reproductive and toxicological implications. Toxicology 2023; 492:153543. [PMID: 37150288 DOI: 10.1016/j.tox.2023.153543] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2023] [Revised: 04/27/2023] [Accepted: 05/04/2023] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
This study aimed to evaluate the gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) animal sterilizing potential after intratesticular injections and long-term adverse reproductive and systemic effects. Adult male Wistar rats were divided into control and gold nanoparticle (AuNPs) groups. The rats received 200µL of saline or AuNPs solution (16µg/mL) on experimental days 1 and 7 (ED1 and ED7). After 150 days, the testicular blood flow was measured, and the rats were mated with females. After mating, male animals were euthanized for histological, cellular, and molecular evaluations. The female fertility indices and fetal development were also recorded. The results indicated increased blood flow in the testes of treated animals. Testes from treated rats had histological abnormalities, shorter seminiferous epithelia, and oxidative stress. Although the sperm concentration was lower in the AuNP-treated rats, there were no alterations in sperm morphology. Animals exposed to AuNPs had decreased male fertility indices, and their offspring had lighter and less efficient placentas. Additionally, the anogenital distance was longer in female fetuses. There were no changes in the histology of the kidney and liver, the lipid profile, and the serum levels of LH, testosterone, AST, ALT, ALP, albumin, and creatinine. The primary systemic effect was an increase in MDA levels in the liver and kidney, with only the liver experiencing an increase in CAT activity. In conclusion, AuNPs have a long-term impact on reproduction with very slight alterations in animal health. The development of reproductive biotechnologies that eliminate germ cells or treat local cancers can benefit from using AuNPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- John L P Coimbra
- Laboratory of Cellular Biology, Department of Morphology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - Graziela de P F Dantas
- Laboratory of Cellular Biology, Department of Morphology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - Lídia M de Andrade
- Laboratory of Nanomaterials, ICEX/UFMG, Nanobiomedical Research Group, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - Marcos R G Brener
- Laboratory of Cellular Biology, Department of Morphology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - Pedro I M Viana
- Laboratory of Cellular Biology, Department of Morphology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - Roberta A Lopes
- Laboratory of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - Daniele O G Gontijo
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - Luiz O G Ervilha
- Laboratory of Animal Reproduction and Toxicology, Department of General Biology, Viçosa, MG, Brazil
| | - Mirian Q Assis
- Laboratory of Animal Reproduction and Toxicology, Department of General Biology, Viçosa, MG, Brazil
| | - Luciola S Barcelos
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - Raphael E Szawka
- Laboratory of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - Débora C Damasceno
- Laboratory of Experimental Research on Gynecology and Obstetrics, Postgraduate Course of Tocogynecology, Botucatu Medical School, Unesp
| | - Mariana Machado-Neves
- Laboratory of Animal Reproduction and Toxicology, Department of General Biology, Viçosa, MG, Brazil
| | - Ana P Mota
- Clinical Hematology Laboratory, Faculty of Pharmacy, Biological Sciences, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - Guilherme M J Costa
- Laboratory of Cellular Biology, Department of Morphology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.
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Jivago JLPR, Brito JLM, Capistrano G, Vinícius-Araújo M, Lima Verde E, Bakuzis AF, Souza PEN, Azevedo RB, Lucci CM. New Prospects in Neutering Male Animals Using Magnetic Nanoparticle Hyperthermia. Pharmaceutics 2021; 13:pharmaceutics13091465. [PMID: 34575541 PMCID: PMC8467495 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics13091465] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2021] [Revised: 09/03/2021] [Accepted: 09/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Controlling populations of free-roaming dogs and cats poses a huge challenge worldwide. Non-surgical neutering strategies for male animals have been long pursued, but the implementation of the procedures developed has remained limited to date. As submitting the testes to high temperatures impairs spermatogenesis, the present study investigated localized application of magnetic nanoparticle hyperthermia (MNH) to the testicles as a potential non-surgical sterilization method for animals. An intratesticular injection of a magnetic fluid composed of manganese-ferrite nanoparticles functionalized with citrate was administered followed by testicle exposure to an alternate magnetic field to generate localized heat. Testicular MNH was highly effective, causing progressive seminiferous tubule degeneration followed by substitution of the parenchyma with stromal tissue and gonadal atrophy, suggesting an irreversible process with few side effects to general animal health.
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Affiliation(s)
- José Luiz P. R. Jivago
- Laboratory of Animal Reproduction, Department of Physiological Sciences, Institute of Biological Sciences, Campus Universitário Darcy Ribeiro, Brasilia 70910-900, DF, Brazil; (J.L.P.R.J.); (J.L.M.B.)
| | - Juliana Lis Mendes Brito
- Laboratory of Animal Reproduction, Department of Physiological Sciences, Institute of Biological Sciences, Campus Universitário Darcy Ribeiro, Brasilia 70910-900, DF, Brazil; (J.L.P.R.J.); (J.L.M.B.)
| | - Gustavo Capistrano
- Institute of Physics and CNanoMed, Federal University of Goiás, Goiania 74884-092, GO, Brazil; (G.C.); (M.V.-A.); (A.F.B.)
| | - Marcus Vinícius-Araújo
- Institute of Physics and CNanoMed, Federal University of Goiás, Goiania 74884-092, GO, Brazil; (G.C.); (M.V.-A.); (A.F.B.)
| | - Ediron Lima Verde
- Instituto de Ciências Exatas e da Terra, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso, Pontal do Araguaia 78060-900, MT, Brazil;
| | - Andris Figueiroa Bakuzis
- Institute of Physics and CNanoMed, Federal University of Goiás, Goiania 74884-092, GO, Brazil; (G.C.); (M.V.-A.); (A.F.B.)
| | - Paulo E. N. Souza
- Laboratory of Electron Paramagnetic Resonance, Institute of Physics, University of Brasilia, Brasilia 70910-900, DF, Brazil;
| | - Ricardo Bentes Azevedo
- Department of Genetics and Morphology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Campus Universitário Darcy Ribeiro, Brasilia 70910-900, DF, Brazil;
| | - Carolina Madeira Lucci
- Laboratory of Animal Reproduction, Department of Physiological Sciences, Institute of Biological Sciences, Campus Universitário Darcy Ribeiro, Brasilia 70910-900, DF, Brazil; (J.L.P.R.J.); (J.L.M.B.)
- Correspondence:
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Kwak BK, Lee SH. Evaluation of Newly Developed Chemical Castration Method: Changes in Hormone Gene Expression of Hypothalamic-Pituitary Axis. Dev Reprod 2017; 21:307-315. [PMID: 29082346 PMCID: PMC5651697 DOI: 10.12717/dr.2017.21.3.307] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2017] [Revised: 09/20/2017] [Accepted: 09/22/2017] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Surgical castration (also known as orchidectomy, ORX) has been frequently
performed to avoid uncontrolled breeding. However, it has some serious
disadvantages. Several laboratories have developed chemical castration methods,
using bilateral intratesticular injection (BITI) of simple chemical solutions.
The present study was undertaken to compare the effects of ORX and of hypertonic
saline BITI on the androgen-sensitive tissues such as pituitary and
hypothalamus. Serum testosterone (T) levels of ORX animals and hypertonic saline
BITI animals (SAL) after 4 weeks of the manipulations exhibited significantly
drops as compared with the levels of intact animals (Intact:ORX:SAL = 7.74±
1.31:1.34±0.19:1.28±0.18 ng/ml, p<0.001). Both ORX and BITI
method induced similar stimulatory effects on the pituitary gonadotropin
subunits and hypothalamic KiSS-1 gene expressions. In contrast, the effects of
ORX and hypertonic saline BITI on hypothalamic GnRH gene expression were
different from these gene expressions, shown an inverse relationship between the
two groups (Intact:ORX:SAL = 1:0.45±0.06:1:2.07±0.41:1.51±0.37 AU; ORX,
p<0.001; SAL, p<0.05). In
conclusion, we provided evidence that hypertonic saline BITI method has
equivalent efficacy of T depletion to surgical castration in rats. The present
study suggests the hypertonic saline BITI could be a promising substitute to
conventional surgical castration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Byung Kuk Kwak
- Department of Life Science, Sangmyung University, Seoul 03016,
Korea
| | - Sung-Ho Lee
- Department of Life Science, Sangmyung University, Seoul 03016,
Korea
- Corresponding Author : Sung-Ho Lee, Ph.D.,
Department of Life Science, Sangmyung University, Hongjmoon-2 gil 20,
Jongrho-Gu, Seoul 03016, Republic of Korea. Tel: +82-2-2287-5139, Fax:
+82-2-2287-0070, E-mail:
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Watcho P, Meli Watio H, Wankeu-Nya M, Ngadjui E, Deeh Defo P, Nkeng-Efouet PA, Nguelefack TB, Kamanyi A. Androgenic effects of aqueous and methanolic extracts of Ficus asperifolia in male Wistar rats. BMC COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE 2017; 17:42. [PMID: 28086774 PMCID: PMC5237287 DOI: 10.1186/s12906-016-1547-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2015] [Accepted: 12/20/2016] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Androgen deficiency is a clinical syndrome resulting from the inability of the testes to produce physiological levels of testosterone due to a disturbance occurring at one or more levels of the hypothalamic-pituitary-testicular axis. The present study was undertaken to evaluate the androgenic properties of aqueous and methanolic extracts of Ficus asperifolia on normal and castrated immature rats. METHODS Normal rats were treated either per os with aqueous or methanolic extract of Ficus asperifolia (100 mg/kg or 500 mg/kg b.w.), distilled water (10 ml/kg b.w.), 5% Tween 80 (10 ml/kg b.w.) or subcutaneously with testosterone propionate (0.5 mg/kg b.w.). Castrated rats were treated with plant extracts (100 mg/kg b.w. or 500 mg/kg b.w.) alone or with the co-administration of plant extracts and testosterone propionate (s.c., 0.5 mg/kg b.w.) or bicalutamide (2 mg/kg b.w. per os). Animals were treated once a day during four weeks. Body weight growth and relative sexual organ weights were recorded at the end of each treatment. Some biomedical parameters were measured in the plasma (proteins, cholesterol), testes (cholesterol) and epididymis (proteins). RESULTS In normal rats, Ficus asperifolia significantly (p < 0.05) increased the relative weights of the testes and all sexual-dependent organs whereas total testicular cholesterol concentration was significantly (p < 0.05) decreased. In castrated groups, treatment with Ficus asperifolia was followed by an increase in the sexual organ weights, epididymal protein and prostatic acid phosphatase concentrations. The co-administration of testosterone and plant extracts significantly (p < 0.05) increased the weight of accessory sexual organs and epididymal protein contents. In the presence of bicalutamide (an anti-androgen), the sexual stimulating activity of Ficus asperifolia was diminished with remarkable effects on vas deferens weight (p < 0.05), plasma (p < 0.01) and epididymal (p < 0.05) protein contents. CONCLUSION Ficus asperifolia possesses androgen-like activity through possible stimulation of cytoplasmic and/or nuclear receptors by the bioactive compounds found in its extracts.
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