Surgical Castration Research Articles

Behavior of Piglets in an Observation Arena before and after Surgical Castration with Local Anesthesia.

Surgical castration of piglets is generally recognized as a painful procedure, but there is currently no gold standard for the assessment of pain behavior in piglets. However, pain assessment is essential for evaluating the effectiveness of local anesthetics. In this study, we investigated the efficacy of four local anesthetics in terms of pain relief during and after surgical castration in three sequential study parts. To do so, we filmed 178 piglets before the applied procedures, after injection of the local anesthetic, and up to 24 h after castration (five observation times in total) in an observation arena and compared their behavior before and after castration and between treatments and control groups. The results showed significant differences in the behavior of the piglets before and after castration and between the sham-castrated control group and the control group castrated without anesthesia. The different local anesthesia treatment groups showed diverging differences to the control groups. The most frequently shown pain-associated behaviors of the piglets were changes in tail position and hunched back posture. We observed a reduction but no complete elimination of the expressed pain-associated behaviors after local anesthesia. Several behavioral changes-such as changes in tail position, hunched back posture or tail wagging-persisted until the day after castration. Owing to the limited duration of the effects of the local anesthetics, local anesthesia did not influence long-term pain.

Mechanisms of Prostate Cancer Cells Survival and Their Therapeutic Targeting.

Prostate cancer (PCa) is today the second most common cancer in the world, with almost 400,000 deaths annually. Multiple factors are involved in the etiology of PCa, such as older age, genetic mutations, ethnicity, diet, or inflammation. Modern treatment of PCa involves radical surgical treatment or radiation therapy in the stages when the tumor is limited to the prostate. When metastases develop, the standard procedure is androgen deprivation therapy, which aims to reduce the level of circulating testosterone, which is achieved by surgical or medical castration. However, when the level of testosterone decreases to the castration level, the tumor cells adapt to the new conditions through different mechanisms, which enable their unhindered growth and survival, despite the therapy. New knowledge about the biology of the so-called of castration-resistant PCa and the way it adapts to therapy will enable the development of new drugs, whose goal is to prolong the survival of patients with this stage of the disease, which will be discussed in this review.

Surgical versus medical castration in the treatment of metastatic prostate cancer; A systematic review and meta-analysis

Surgical versus medical castration in the treatment of metastatic prostate cancer; A systematic review and meta-analysis

Genital gender-affirming surgery for transgender women.

Transgender women may opt for genital gender-affirming surgery (gGAS), which comprises bilateral orchiectomy, gender-affirming vulvoplasty, or vaginoplasty. Vaginoplasty is chosen most frequently in this population, penile inversion vaginoplasty being the surgical gold standard. In selected cases, skin graft vaginoplasty, intestinal vaginoplasty, or peritoneal vaginoplasty may be indicated. In this article, we discuss the various types of gGAS for transgender women, (contra)-indications, intraoperative considerations, techniques, surgical outcomes, and postoperative patient-reported outcomes.

Sutureless Technique for Surgical Castration in Adult Boars: A Feasibility Study.

The heterogeneity of Italian manufacturing processes results in the production of a large variety of pork products. In Sardinia, boars are raised and butchered to produce charcuterie. These animals are castrated before slaughter as androstenone would otherwise taint the meat, rendering it unfit for human consumption. However, to date, the literature concerning surgical orchiectomy in adult boars is limited. The goal of this study is to assess whether a sutureless swine orchiectomy procedure is feasible. Additionally, this study aims to determine the appropriate traction force needed to tie knots in the deferens duct of pigs of different weights and ages. Two groups were created: the first (n = 91) underwent orchiectomy by suture ligation; the second (n = 20) was castrated using the sutureless technique. Deferens ducts of animals in the first group (n = 182) were collected following castration, and their tensile strength was measured. Pearson's linear correlation was used to determine the relationship between the maximum traction force and weight and age groups. A correlation of 0.99 and 0.96 was shown between traction force and age and traction force and weight, respectively. In accordance with these results, sutureless castration was performed on 20 animals, calibrating the pulling force needed according to the age and weight of the boars. No complications were observed during the feasibility study, thus validating sutureless orchiectomy in adult boars.

Effect of electroacupuncture on the morphology of prostate and degranulation of mast cells in rats with chronic nonbacterial prostatitis

To observe the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) on the morphology of prostate and degranulation of mast cells in prostate of rats with chronic nonbacterial prostatitis (CNP). Male SD rats were randomly divided into sham operation group, model group and EA group, with 8 rats in each group. CNP model was established by surgical castration combined with 17-β estradiol injection once daily for 30 days. EA was applied to "Zhongji" (CV3), "Guanyuan" (CV4) and bilateral "Dahe" (KI12) for 20 min, once daily for 8 days. The mechanical pain threshold of scrotum skin area was tested before modeling, after modeling and after intervention. The pathological morphology of the prostate was observed by HE staining. Collagenous fiber was observed by Masson staining. The infiltration of mast cells was observed by toluidine blue staining. The contents of interleukin 6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) in prostate were determined by ELISA. The protein expression levels of tryptase and transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1) in prostate were detected by Western blot. A normal appearance with little inflammatory cell infiltration was observed in the prostate of the sham operation group. Gland atrophy, epithelial destruction, hyperemia and edema, diffuse inflammatory cell infiltration and visible collagen fiber deposition were observed in prostate of the model group. The degree of infiltration of inflammatory cells and collagen fiber deposition were reduced in the EA group. Compared with the sham operation group, mechanical pain threshold was decreased (P<0.01), while the collagen volu-me fraction (CVF) of prostate, the degranulated rate of mast cells, the protein expression levels of tryptase and TGF-β1, and the contents of IL-6 and TNF-α were increased (P<0.01) in the model group. Following EA intervention, compared with the model group, the mechanical pain threshold was increased (P<0.01), CVF of the prostate, the degranulated rate of mast cells, the protein expression levels of tryptase and TGF-β1, and the contents of IL-6 and TNF-α were decreased (P<0.05, P<0.01) in the EA group. EA can relieve pain and reduce inflammation and fibrosis of prostate in CNP rats, which may be related to inhibiting the degranulation of prostate mast cells and down-regulating the expression of inflammatory factors and TGF-β1.

Dramatic improvement after palliative whole-liver radiotherapy for liver damage caused by diffuse liver metastases from castration-resistant prostate cancer: A case report

Introduction: Whole-liver radiotherapy (WLRT) is performed for palliative purposes in patients with metastatic liver tumors. However, it remains unclear whether the benefits obtained from WLRT surpass the potential disadvantages of radiotherapy-induced liver disease in such patients, particularly those with severe liver damage. We present the case of a 76-year-old man with diffuse liver metastases from castration-resistant prostate cancer. Case Report: He was diagnosed as having prostate cancer with multiple metastases to the bone, pleura, and para-aortic lymph nodes three years and six months earlier and developed hepatic metastases following a sequence of therapies, including surgical castration, bicalutamide, enzalutamide, and 10 cycles of docetaxel. Despite administering abiraterone acetate for two months, the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels increased, and the patient developed symptomatic liver damage, presenting with jaundice, anorexia, and fatigue. His serum total bilirubin (9.5 mg/dL) and liver transaminase (&gt;100 U/L) levels were markedly elevated. The patient received WLRT at 8 Gy in a single fraction for palliative intent. Symptomatic relief was achieved shortly after WLRT, and the total bilirubin and transaminase levels decreased and normalized within two months. Additionally, two months after WLRT, the PSA level decreased from 285 to 23.3 ng/mL, and a robust partial tumor response was observed on computed tomography images. Although the patient died of cancer eight months after WLRT, radiotherapy-induced liver disease was not confirmed during the follow-up period. Conclusion: In the present case, WLRT successfully relieved the symptoms and reversed the liver damage caused by diffuse metastases, and it was considered to contribute to cancer control without adverse events. Thus, WLRT can be a viable option for patients with liver damage induced by diffuse liver metastases.

Sinomenine Hydrochloride Can Ameliorate Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia by Lowering the 5α-Reductase 2 Level and Regulating the Balance between the Proliferation and Apoptosis of Cells.

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a chronic disease that affects the quality of life of older males. Sinomenine hydrochloride (SIN) is the major bioactive alkaloid isolated from the roots of the traditional Chinese medicinal plant Sinomenium acutum Rehderett Wilson. We wondered if the SIN administration exerted a regulatory effect on BPH and its potential mechanism of action. Mice with testosterone propionate-induced BPH subjected to bilateral orchiectomy were employed for in vivo experiments. A human BPH cell line (BPH-1) was employed for in vitro experiments. SIN administration inhibited the proliferation of BPH-1 cells (p < 0.05) by regulating the expression of androgen-related proteins (steroid 5-alpha reductase 2 (SRD5A2), androgen receptors, prostate-specific antigen), apoptosis-related proteins (B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2), Bcl-2-associated X protein (Bax)) and proliferation-related proteins (proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), mammalian target of rapamycin, inducible nitric oxide synthase) in vitro. SIN administration decreased the prostate-gland weight coefficient (p < 0.05) and improved the histological status of mice suffering from BPH. The regulatory effects of SIN administration on SRD5A2, an apoptosis-related protein (Bcl-2), and proliferation-related proteins (PCNA, matrix metalloproteinase-2) were consistent with in vitro data. SIN exerted a therapeutic effect against BPH probably related to lowering the SRD5A2 level and regulating the balance between the proliferation and apoptosis of cells. Our results provide an important theoretical basis for the development of plant medicines for BPH therapy.

Pre-And post-Androgen deprivation lipid profiles of men with prostate cancer A multi-center study

Introduction: Dyslipidemia is the primary cause of hospitalization and death in men with advanced prostate cancer. Our goal was to examine how androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) affects lipid profiles in Indian men with locally progressed or metastatic prostate cancer. Methods: this multi center study was conducted in LRH urology department From jan 2020 to jan 2021 Patients with prostate cancer who received ADT and for whom lipid account data from the first two years of ADT treatment was available were split into two groups for retrospective analysis. Members of Group A had bilateral orchidectomy, whereas those in Group B were given a luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone agonist (LHRHa). The information considered are quality standards, prostate-specific antigen (PSA), and lipid profiles. Results: 69 eligible patients were divided evenly between teams A (29) and B (40). After starting ADT, the median blood PSA level dropped significantly in both groups and remained low until 24 months. At six months, there was a statistically insignificant decline in all lipid profile parameters in team A patients except for high-density lipoprotein cholesterol.

Androgen Signaling Contributes to Sex Differences in Cancer by Inhibiting NF-κB Activation in T Cells and Suppressing Antitumor Immunity.

Androgen signaling induces immunosuppression in cancer by blocking T-cell activity through upregulation of USP18 and subsequent inhibition of NF-κB activity, providing a targetable axis to improve antitumor immunity in males.

Clinical challenge: a case of testicular tumor disguised as a prenatal testicular torsion

BackgroundNeonatal tumors account for a minority of prepubertal testicular tumors. Similarly, testicular torsion in the neonate within the intrauterine or postnatal period is a rare event with an estimated incidence of 6 per 100,000. Testicular salvage is almost never achieved in cases of prenatal testicular torsion and there is still no consensus on the ideal management.Case presentationA neonate with prenatal testicular torsion that underwent inguinal orchiectomy. On pathological examination, an uncharacterizable, multicystic, and well-delineated testicular tumor was identified. Although rare, testicular tumor presenting as neonatal testicular torsion should be considered in the differential diagnosis of an acute neonatal scrotum.ConclusionsThis case highlights that an inguinal approach for surgical exploration in prenatal testicular torsions may be preferred given the risk, albeit extremely low, of an underlying testicular tumour.

Bilateral orchiectomy deteriorates the structure and function of seminal vesicles in a rat model.

The effects of hormone levels on ejaculation are known. In addition to thyroid hormone levels, testosterone levels are also associated with ejaculation, but no consensus has been reached on this issue. Thus, we investigated the effect of decreased testosterone levels due to bilateral orchiectomy on the chemical stimulation-induced ejaculation phases in rats. Twenty-one male Wistar rats were randomized into the orchiectomy, sham, and control groups, with seven rats in each group. Bilateral orchiectomy was performed. The ejaculation parameters were evaluated 5 days after the sham and bilateral orchiectomy operations and the waiting period in the control group. The seminal vesicle (SV) phasic contraction number and increase in basal pressure amplitude were significantly lower in the orchiectomy group (6.9 ± 3.3 and 0.6 ± 0.3 mmHg) than in the sham and control groups (11.2 ± 1.7 and 1.0 ± 0.4 mmHg, and 14.5 ± 6.6 and 1.1 ± 0.2 mmHg, respectively; p = 0.016 and p = 0.03, respectively). The interval between the SV contractions was significantly longer in the orchiectomy group (166.2 ± 104.3 s) than in the sham and control groups (76.0 ± 15.5 s and 63.1 ± 31.1 s, respectively; p = 0.014 (between groups), orchiectomy vs sham p = 0.040 and orchiectomy vs control p = 0.018). The SV weights of the rats were significantly lower in the orchiectomy group (0.14 ± 0.01 g) than in the sham and control groups (0.37 ± 0.05 g and 0.48 ± 0.03 g respectively; p < 0.0001 (between groups), orchiectomy vs sham p < 0.0001 and orchiectomy vs control p < 0.0001). The groups showed no significant differences in ejaculation time, SV basal pressure, SV maximum amplitude, and bulbospongiosus muscle contraction electromyographic activity. Our results partially clarified the relationship between decreased testosterone levels and ejaculation. Decreased testosterone levels caused statistically significant changes in SV functions and affected the ejaculation emission phase.

Effect of knife castration on leukocyte cytokine expression and indicators of stress, pain, and inflammation in Korean cattle bull calves.

This study investigated the effects of surgical castration on behavior, physiological and inflammatory indicators, and leukocyte cytokine mRNA levels in Korean cattle bull calves. Nineteen Korean cattle bull calves (average body weight, 254.5 kg; average age, 8.2 months) were divided into two treatment groups: control (n = 9) and castration (n = 10). Surgical castration was performed using Newberry knives and a Henderson castrating tool. Blood was obtained just before castration (0 h) and at 0.5 h, 6 h, 1 d, 3 d, 7 d, and 14 d after castration. Plasma cortisol (PC), saliva cortisol (SC), plasma substance P, and plasma haptoglobin concentrations, and the leucocyte mRNA levels of the interleukin-1-alpha (IL1A), interleukin-1-beta (IL1B), interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL1RN), and interleukin-6 (IL6) genes were analyzed. Castration decreased (p<0.01) the average daily gain and gain/feed ratio. Castration reduced the time spent eating (p<0.001) and the eating frequency (p<0.01) and increased (p<0.001) the lying frequency. Castration temporarily increased (p<0.05) circulating PC and SC concentrations at 0.5 h after castration. Castration temporarily increased (p<0.05) plasma substance P concentrations at 1 d after castration. Castration increased (p<0.05) plasma haptoglobin concentrations at 1 and 3 d after castration. Castration increased (p< 0.05) leukocyte mRNA levels of the IL1A, IL1B, IL1RN, and IL6 genes at 6 h after castration. Castration temporarily induced stress and expression of leucocyte inflammatory cytokine genes in Korean cattle bull calves.

From Terror to Treatment: a History of Human Castration

Objectives Castration is any action, surgical or chemical, by which an individual loses use of the gonads, most commonly referring to loss of the testicles. Reference to elective castration has been, according to Diodorus, as old as the human record itself, first being practiced in pharaonic Egypt. Castration has been practiced as a means to produce eunuchs, a punitive measure in military and secular courts, and a source of trophy-taking in warfare. The role of castration in the control of advanced and metastatic prostate cancer became a well recognized standard of care in the mid-20th century earning Nobel Prizes for its pioneers. Our aim was to better understand the history of human castration and its transformation from an instrument of terror to a standard and sometimes life-saving urological treatment. Methods A literature review on human castration was performed through Medline, PubMed, the Gutenburg Project, and Google Scholar searching words “castration”, “eunuch”, “orchiectomy” and “androgen deprivation”. We accessed the public archives of the British Museum (London) and digital classical libraries as cited. Reports were collected to create a timeline. Results First reports of human castration date back to the 21st century (BCE) in the ancient city of Lagash, Sumeria when used for the creation of court eunuchs. Castration figured prominently in most ancient cultures from myth to jurisprudence. The god Uranus was castrated by his son, Cronus (Saturn), with an adamantine sickle, throwing the severed gonads into the sea. There is at least conjectural evidence of castration on medical, criminal, and even volitional grounds from pharaonic and classical history through medieval and modern times. Primitive medical observations recognized the different phenotypes of pre-pubertal and post-pubertal eunuchs especially on the voice which may account for the popularity of some castrati in the history of choral music. Castration was a well-established procedure in the domestication of animals for millennia but it was only in 1941 that Charles Huggins and others first demonstrated the effects of bilateral orchiectomy in the control of prostate cancer. Medical castration, now with special androgen receptor inhibitors, continues to be a mainstay in the management of metastatic and hormone refractory prostate cancer. Conclusions Medical or surgical castration plays an important role in the modern management of advanced prostate cancer. Castration has existed in human cultures for thousands of years, although its true prevalence is unknown, accounted for in the folklore and sparse records typical of ancient times.

CRISPR/Cas9-editing of KISS1 to generate pigs with hypogonadotropic hypogonadism as a castration free trait.

Introduction: Most male pigs are surgically castrated to avoid puberty-derived boar taint and aggressiveness. However, this surgical intervention represents a welfare concern in swine production. Disrupting porcine KISS1 is hypothesized to delay or abolish puberty by inducing variable hypogonadotropism and thus preventing the need for castration. Methods: To test this hypothesis, we generated the first KISS1-edited large animal using CRISPR/Cas9-ribonucleoproteins and single-stranded donor oligonucleotides. The targeted region preceded the sequence encoding a conserved core motif of kisspeptin. Genome editors were intracytoplasmically injected into 684 swine zygotes and transferred to 19 hormonally synchronized surrogate sows. In nine litters, 49 American Yorkshire and 20 Duroc liveborn piglets were naturally farrowed. Results: Thirty-five of these pigs bore KISS1-disruptive alleles ranging in frequency from 5% to 97% and did not phenotypically differ from their wild-type counterparts. In contrast, four KISS1-edited pigs (two boars and two gilts) with disruptive allele frequencies of 96% and 100% demonstrated full hypogonadotropism, infantile reproductive tracts, and failed to reach sexual maturity. Change in body weight during development was unaffected by editing KISS1. Founder pigs partially carrying KISS1-disruptive alleles were bred resulting in a total of 53 KISS1 +/+, 60 KISS1 +/-, and 34 KISS1 -/- F1 liveborn piglets, confirming germline transmission. Discussion: Results demonstrate that a high proportion of KISS1 alleles in pigs must be disrupted before variation in gonadotropin secretion is observed, suggesting that even a small amount of kisspeptin ligand is sufficient to confer proper sexual development and puberty in pigs. Follow-on studies will evaluate fertility restoration in KISS1 KO breeding stock to fully realize the potential of KISS1 gene edits to eliminate the need for surgical castration.

Anesthetic implications for transurethral resection of prostate in a COVID-19 survivor with Stanford-A aortic dissection with acute urinary retention due to metastatic carcinoma prostate: a case report

BackgroundAortic dissection is a new addition to the long COVID-19 complication catalog. We report this rare and novel complication, which can be missed without a high index of suspicion in the ever-burgeoning population of COVID-survivors presenting for un-related surgery. We emphasize the importance of recording blood pressure in both the upper limbs in COVID-survivors during pre-anesthetic checkup, especially in patients with a dilated aorta on the chest radiograph to identify any interarm blood pressure discrepancy characteristic of aortic dissection. Discontinuation of antihypertensive based on low/normal blood pressure in left upper limb can precipitate concealed and catastrophic rise in blood pressure in the right upper-limb propagating the dissection of aorta to a fatal conclusion. The cardinal anesthetic consideration is to mitigate the effect of hemodynamic perturbations on the dissected aorta.Case presentationWe report the successful management of the case of a 76-year-old male prostatic cancer patient with COVID-induced aortic-dissection and acute urinary retention, posted for transurethral resection of prostate. CT angiography revealed an intimal flap in the ascending aortic lumen and aortic arch till the origin of left subclavian artery resulting in a double-barreled aorta. An arterial line was secured in right radial artery and non-invasive blood pressure recorded in left arm simultaneously (202/60 mmHg in right upper-limb and 92/70 mmHg in the left upper-limb on wheeling into the operation theatre). He underwent transurethral prostatic resection and bilateral orchidectomy under low-dose subarachnoid block with prophylactic use of labetalol infusion.ConclusionsThe importance of recording blood pressure in both the upper limbs in COVID survivors maintaining a high index of suspicion for aortic dissection cannot be overemphasized. Transurethral prostatic resection surgery under low-dose subarachnoid block is possible under the umbrella of judicious selection and optimal use of cardiac medication with an interventional cardiologist as standby in patients with aortic dissection.

A case report of large testicular mass: An Eastern Province report from KSA

Large testicular tumor is not a commonly seen entity in the modern era. While treatment of large testicular tumors is via inguinal radical orchiectomy, large testicular tumors carry the dilemma of delivering these large masses via the inguinal or scrotal approach. Here, we present a case of a 53-year-old male patient with a testicular tumor weighing 2.170 kg, measuring 22 cm × 16 cm × 12 cm, who was treated via inguinal orchiectomy with the extension of the surgical wound to the neck of the scrotum, with pathological report showing seminoma with no spermatic cord invasion. We review some case reports of such large tumors to illustrate this treatment dilemma.

Abstract C032: Increased allostatic load is associated with castrate-resistance and de novo metastatic disease in prostate cancer

Abstract Introduction: Allostatic load (AL) is a composite measure of chronic stress including cardiovascular, immune, and metabolic biomarkers. AL has previously been associated with health disparities in cardiovascular disease, metabolic syndrome, and certain malignancies. However, there are no prior publications to the best of our knowledge evaluating the association of AL and clinical outcomes in patients with advanced prostate cancer (PCa). Methods: We identified 139 subjects with metastatic or biochemically recurrent (BCR) PCa treated at the University of Illinois Hospital and Health Sciences System between January 2015 and May 2022. Subjects were assigned AL scores based on retrospective assessment of 9 biomarkers (systolic and diastolic blood pressure, heart rate, alkaline phosphatase, albumin, creatinine, body mass index, glucose, white blood cell count) collected at the time of diagnosis of advanced disease. Subjects were assigned a total AL score whereby each of the individual 9 biomarkers were given a value of 0 or 1 if threshold value was met. Results: Of the 139 subjects, the median age at PCa diagnosis was 63. The majority were African American (65.4%), 14.4% were Hispanic or Latino, 12.2% were white and non-Hispanic or Latino, and race/ethnicity was other or unknown for 7.9%. A majority (62.6%) had localized or regional nodal disease at diagnosis but later developed metastases or BCR, while 37.4% had de novo metastatic disease. Those with de novo metastatic disease had a higher mean AL score compared to those who had localized or regional nodal disease at diagnosis (2.62 vs. 2.08, p=0.03). Nearly all of the subjects (98.6%) received androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) while 1.4% had surgical castration. Most (66.2%) had local therapies such as surgery or radiation prior to or in addition to ADT. A minority (39.6%) developed castrate-resistant disease while 60.4% did not. For subjects who developed castrate-resistant disease, median time to castrate-resistance was 31 months. Those who developed castrate-resistant disease had a higher mean AL score compared to those who did not (2.58 vs. 2.08, p=0.03). In the study population, 25.9% had a low sum Gleason score (≤7) at diagnosis, 46.0% had a high sum Gleason score (≥8) at diagnosis, and 28.1% did not have a Gleason score available at diagnosis. Subjects with a high sum Gleason score had higher mean AL compared to those with low sum Gleason scores, though this finding did not reach statistical significance (2.47 vs. 1.94, p=0.06). In our study, 32 out of 139 subjects had at least one biomarker missing from their records and therefore not included in the subject’s AL score. The most common biomarkers missing were albumin and alkaline phosphatase. Discussion: In our pilot, single-institution study, higher AL may be associated with more aggressive phenotypes of PCa including de novo metastatic disease, earlier progression to castrate-resistance, and higher Gleason scores. Prospective studies are needed to further validate the role AL plays in PCa aggressiveness. Citation Format: Michael Weinfeld, Ryan Nguyen, Frank Weinberg, Vijayakrishna Gadi, Natalie Reizine. Increased allostatic load is associated with castrate-resistance and de novo metastatic disease in prostate cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 15th AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2022 Sep 16-19; Philadelphia, PA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2022;31(1 Suppl):Abstract nr C032.

Effect of short-term fattening period and castration method on productivity, serum testosterone, and economic efficacy in Hanwoo cattle

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of castration method and short-term fattening periods on Hanwoo cattle. Thirty-two Hanwoo calves (average body weight: 148.4 ± 19.8 kg) were used. The calves were randomly assigned in a 2 × 2 factor according to two castration methods (castration or hemi-castration) and two short-term finishing periods (24 months or 26 months). The final body weight increased significantly as the fattening period increased (p < 0.05), and the average daily weight gain was higher in the hemi-castration groups than in the castration groups (p < 0.05). After surgical castration, testosterone concentration was higher in the hemi-castration group than in the castration group during the entire experimental period (p < 0.05). The rib eye area was wider in the hemi-castration group than in the castration group (p < 0.01).An interaction effect was observed between the castration method and short-term fattening period (p < 0.05). Marbling and auction price scores differed between castration methods and were higher in the castration group than in the hemi-castration group (p < 0.01). Gross receipts and net income increased in the castration group compared to the hemi-castration group (p < 0.01) and showed a tendency to increase with the short-term fattening period, but there was no significant difference. Thus, castration to remove both testicles is essential for economic profit through producing high-quality Korean beef meat, and short-term fattening for 26 months, rather than 24 months, can benefit more by increasing carcass weight and meat quality.

Effects of Deslorelin on Testosterone Secretion and Testicular Volume in Male Rhesus Macaques (Macaca mulatta).

Sterility in male NHP has long been achieved through surgical castration or vasectomy. However, these techniques are irreversible, require a surgical procedure, and have potential consequences such as sperm granulomas and long recovery time. Deslorelin is a gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist that temporarily and reversibly suppresses sex hormone secretion. Our goal in this study was to investigate the effects of deslorelin on testosterone secretion and testicular volume in male rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta). Male macaques (n = 4) each received two, 4.7-mg deslorelin implants subcutaneously in the interscapular region. Serum testosterone and testicular volume were then monitored at specific time points until 10 mo after treatment. Testosterone suppression was defined as testosterone levels lower than 0.6 ng/mL for a sustained period of at least 30 d. After implantation, mean testicular volume was significantly reduced by day 121. Testosterone suppression was observed in all subjects. However, the time from implantation to testosterone suppression and duration of suppression varied. Two macaques were hormonally suppressed by day 26 after implantation and remained suppressed for at least 6 mo. The other 2 macaques were hormonally suppressed by 2 mo after implantation; of these two, one remained suppressed for 70 days while the other was suppressed for at least 245 days. We conclude that deslorelin can safely suppress testosterone secretion in male rhesus macaques, but individual variation in onset and duration of action should be considered when establishing reimplantation time points and potential return to reproductive activity.