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. 2021 May 4;17(1):183.
doi: 10.1186/s12917-021-02845-6.

Downregulation of testicular function in the goat by altrenogest

Lisa Mihsler-Kirsch  1 , Henrik Wagner  1 , Klaus Failing  2 , Axel Wehrend  3
Affiliations

Downregulation of testicular function in the goat by altrenogest

Lisa Mihsler-Kirsch et al. BMC Vet Res. .

Abstract

Background: The present study investigated whether the administration of the progestin altrenogest provides noninvasive, temporary, and reversible suppression of gonadal function in the goat as a potential alternative to chirurgical castration, which is related with irreversibility, risks of complications till death of the animal and welfare issues. Eight sexually mature Peacock goats were randomly divided into two groups. The experimental group was administered altrenogest (0.088 mg/kg) orally once daily for 7 weeks. The remaining four goats received an oral glucose solution and served as the control group. After completing the administration period, the reversibility of the medication was evaluated for another 7 weeks (observation phase). The treatment effects were assessed by clinical examination; ultrasound examination of the testes, including one-dimensional grayscale analysis, blood testosterone levels, analysis of semen parameters and libido. At the end of the observation period, the animals were castrated and the testicles were examined histologically.

Results: Altrenogest treatment had no significant effect on the physical development of the goats, the sonographic appearance of the testes, the gray values measured in the ultrasound images, or the blood testosterone levels. The effects of treatment on the testicular and semen parameters varied widely in the experimental animals; the testicle volume was significantly lower and the number of pathologically altered sperm in the ejaculate was significantly higher in treated animals.

Conclusion: These findings indicate that daily altrenogest administration at a dose of 0.088 mg/kg does not reliably suppress gonadal function in the goat.

Keywords: Altrenogest; Castration; Downregulation; Goat; Gonadal function.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest that could be perceived as prejudicing the impartiality of the research reported.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Pathologic changes in the ejaculate of the goats in percent, averaged over all the time-points, represented by the arithmetic mean values as well as the lowest and highest value (range). 1 = total percentage of pathologically changed sperm, 2 = detached heads, 3 = broken tails, 4 = looped tails, 5 = rolled tails, 6 = cytoplasmic droplets. Errors bars indicate the minimum and the maximum values
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Longitudinal ultrasonography of a testis from a buck of the altrenogest group (HS 1500 V, Honda Electronics). Two regions of interest were marked to perform a grey-scale analysis of the parenchyma. 1: tunica vaginalis, 2: testicular parenchyma, 3: mediastinum
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Histological evaluation of testis morphology from one buck of the altrenogest group (HE staining) A cross-section of a seminiferous tubule with elongated spermatids is shown
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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