title: Intratesticular hypertonic sodium chloride solution treatment as a method of chemical castration in cattle.
abstract: Castration of male calves is necessary for trading to facilitate handling and prevent reproduction. However, some methods of castration are traumatic and lead to economic losses because of infection and myiasis. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the efficiency of intratesticular injection (ITI) of hypertonic sodium chloride (NaCl; 20%) solution in male calf castration during the first weeks of life. Forty male calves were allocated to one of the following experimental groups: negative control-surgically castrated immediately after birth; positive control -intact males; G1-ITI from 1- to 5-day old; G2-ITI from 15- to 20-day old; and G3-ITI from 25- to 30-day old. Intratesticular injection induced coagulative necrosis of Leydig cells and seminiferous tubules leading to extensive fibrosis. Testosterone secretion and testicular development were severely impaired in 12-month-old animals from G1 and G2 groups (P<0.05), in which no testicular structure and sperm cells were observed during breeding soundness evaluation. Rectal and scrotal temperatures were not affected by different procedures. In conclusion, ITI of hypertonic NaCl solution induces sterility and completely suppresses testosterone secretion when performed during the first 20 days of life.
authors.affiliation: Department of Large Animal Clinics, Laboratory of Biotechnology and Animal Reproduction-BioRep, Federal University of Santa Maria, Santa Maria, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
authors.forename: Olmiro Andrade
authors.initials: OA
authors.lastname: Neto
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Pathology, Laboratory of Animal Reproduction-ReproPEL, Federal University of Pelotas, Capão do Leão, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Electronic address: bggasperin@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Bernardo G
authors.initials: BG
authors.lastname: Gasperin
authors.affiliation: Department of Large Animal Clinics, Laboratory of Biotechnology and Animal Reproduction-BioRep, Federal University of Santa Maria, Santa Maria, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
authors.forename: Monique T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Rovani
authors.affiliation: Department of Large Animal Clinics, Laboratory of Biotechnology and Animal Reproduction-BioRep, Federal University of Santa Maria, Santa Maria, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
authors.forename: Gustavo F
authors.initials: GF
authors.lastname: Ilha
authors.affiliation: Department of Large Animal Clinics, Laboratory of Biotechnology and Animal Reproduction-BioRep, Federal University of Santa Maria, Santa Maria, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
authors.forename: Janduí E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Nóbrega
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Pathology, Laboratory of Animal Reproduction-ReproPEL, Federal University of Pelotas, Capão do Leão, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
authors.forename: Rafael G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Mondadori
authors.affiliation: Department of Large Animal Clinics, Laboratory of Biotechnology and Animal Reproduction-BioRep, Federal University of Santa Maria, Santa Maria, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
authors.forename: Paulo B D
authors.initials: PB
authors.lastname: Gonçalves
authors.affiliation: Department of Large Animal Clinics, Laboratory of Biotechnology and Animal Reproduction-BioRep, Federal University of Santa Maria, Santa Maria, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
authors.forename: Alfredo Q
authors.initials: AQ
authors.lastname: Antoniazzi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D008297:Male; D009919:Orchiectomy / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*; D012462:Saline Solution, Hypertonic / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013737:Testis / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D012462:Saline Solution, Hypertonic
keywords: Calf; Chemical castration; Infertility; Intratesticular injection; Testosterone secretion