title: Successful use of a gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) analog for the treatment of tertiary hypogonadism (GnRH deficiency) in a 5-year-old Belgian Blue bull.
abstract: A bull was referred for a progressive oligoasthenotheratozoospermia that resulted in a unsuitable seminal quality for the cryopreservation. Breeding soundness evaluation results suggested gonadal dysfunction. Because of the lack of normal ranges for these hormones in the bull, in this study, the hypogonadism and the site of the dysfunction (hypothalamus) were diagnosed by the gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) stimulation test. The evaluation of pituitary and testicular responsiveness by a GnRH stimulating test revealed a responsiveness of the pituitary and testis, thus a secondary hypogonadism (hypothalamic hypogonadism) was postulated and a therapeutic approach based on the subcutaneous administration of GnRH analog was attempted. An increase in semen volume, concentration and sperm characteristics were detected 9 weeks after the start of the treatment, corroborating the hypothalamic origin of the disease and the useful of the GnRH therapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, University of Teramo, Teramo, Italy.
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Contri
authors.forename: Alessia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gloria
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wegher
authors.forename: Augusto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Carluccio
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002064:Buserelin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy*; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000172:deficiency*; D007006:Hypogonadism / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D015918:Infusion Pumps, Implantable / Q000662:veterinary*; D008297:Male; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone; D002064:Buserelin