Abstract
This study was conducted to investigate the effect of GnRH-agonist implantation in prepubertal tomcats on sexual behavior, reproductive performance, and expression of testicular LH receptor (LHR) and FSH receptor (FSHR) and also to compare the testicular characteristics, LHR and FSHR expression between prepubertal and adult tomcats. In experiment 1, 3-month-old tomcats (n = 6/group) were either treated with or left without 4.7 mg deslorelin implants. Semen collection and evaluation were performed just before castration at 48 weeks after treatment; removed testes were analyzed for mRNA and protein expression of LHR and FSHR. We were able to collect semen from six non-treated cats, whereas in treated cats, semen was uncollectable. The results revealed that sexual behavior was absent in the implanted cats throughout the study period. Testicular volume was found to decrease from 30 weeks after treatment onward in the implanted cats compared to the controls (P < 0.05). Semen production was found only in non-implanted cats. Testicular tissue score, seminiferous tubule diameter, and LHR protein expression were found lower in the implanted cats (P < 0.05), but no differences were observed in mRNA expression of LHR and protein expression of FSHR between groups. The mRNA expression of FSHR was higher in the implanted (P < 0.05) compared to control cats. In experiment 2, testes from prepubertal (n = 6) and adult (n = 6) male cats were collected after castration and analyzed for mRNA and protein expression of LHR and FSHR. No differences were observed in the protein expression of LHR and FSHR between the two groups, whereas mRNA expression of FSHR was higher in prepubertal cats (P < 0.05). Testicular and epididymal weight, diameter of seminiferous tubules, and the testicular grade were higher in the adult compared to prepubertal cats (P < 0.05). In conclusion, deslorelin implants suppressed protein expression of LHR and enhanced mRNA expression of FSHR along with suppression of reproductive function without any adverse effects for at least 48 weeks in male cats.
Highlights
Overpopulation of cats is a serious global proSyntax Warning: Invalid Font Weight blem and in big towns/cities roaming of tomcats is reported to be out of owners’ control
Deslorelin implantation which was done without any anesthesia, local or general, was very well tolerated by male pre-pubertal cats as has been reported in previous studies [5, 17]
The sexual behaviour of implanted cats was suppressed and many unwanted behaviours such as spraying, fighting and roaming were totally absent in these cats. This suppression of behaviors resulting from Deslorelin implantation was comparable with behaviours eliminated by surgical castration [27]
Summary
Overpopulation of cats is a serious global proSyntax Warning: Invalid Font Weight blem and in big towns/cities roaming of tomcats is reported to be out of owners’ control. Free roaming cats without any care are subjected to higher risks like suffering from diseases (including zoonotic diseases), malnutrition and accidents. The number of cats euthanized in shelters is on the rise every year mainly due to overpopulation [1] which needs to be controlled in order to address the welfare problems associated with it. Contraception is one of the most successful methods for population control in many animal species. Castration is an invasive surgical procedure and can only be performed on anesthetized animals, whereas anesthesia poses serious problems in juvenile and senile cats and in cats with health problems. Surgical neutering in early age may pose risks like higher sensitivity to many drugs including the anesthetics [3]. Nonsurgical neutering could be a welfare-friendly and viable alternative to surgical methods of neutering [4]
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