title: Semen quality and interval to sterility in tom cats treated with a 9.4 mg deslorelin implant.
abstract: Objectives Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonists like deslorelin are being increasingly used in tom cats for their efficacy in controlling reproductive behaviour and fertility. Deslorelin implants have been widely available in Europe since 2008. Little, if anything, is known about the interval between treatment and onset of sterility, as well as semen quality, after treatment in tom cats. The purpose of this study was to investigate semen quality and interval to sterility in tom cats treated with a 9.4 mg deslorelin implant. Methods Fifteen healthy adult tom cats were treated with a 9.4 mg deslorelin implant (Suprelorin 12). For each cat, semen collection and a GnRH stimulation test (intramuscular administration of 50 μg gonadorelin [Fertagyl], followed by blood sampling 1 h later, to assay serum testosterone) were performed on the first consultation and then repeated every 15 days until complete sterility was achieved. Semen collection was performed by introducing a 14 cm, open-end feline catheter (Argyle) 9 cm into the distal urethra 10 mins after sedation by intramuscular injection of 100 μg/kg medetomidine (Domitor). Results Semen collection was not successful in all cats at each attempt. In the first month after treatment, the semen of only four cats could be evaluated, while the semen of eight cats could be evaluated during the second and third months of the study. Semen quality (ejaculate volume, progressive motility and morphological abnormalities) improved slightly during the first 19-25 days in 2/4 cats, and in 1/4 cats motility was still very high (80%) 25 days post-treatment (PT), but we have no data regarding fertility prior to treatment in this cat. The last cat never produced spermatozoa. Subsequently, semen quality gradually worsened in all cats from 30 days onwards. At 70 days PT, one cat was still potentially fertile. After 72 days all cats were sterile. Conclusions and relevance Semen quality increased slightly in treated cats during the first month after treatment, and then gradually decreased over the following months. Complete sterility was reached within 40-72 days following implantation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Medicine, Production and Health, University of Padova, Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Romagnoli
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Medicine, Production and Health, University of Padova, Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Baldan
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Medicine, Production and Health, University of Padova, Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: Camilla
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Righetti
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Medicine, Production and Health, University of Padova, Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Milani
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Medicine, Production and Health, University of Padova, Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mollo
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Medicine, Production and Health, University of Padova, Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: Calogero
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Stelletta
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy; D002415:Cats; D003267:Contraception / Q000662:veterinary; D003272:Contraceptive Agents, Male / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004343:Drug Implants; D007246:Infertility / Q000662:veterinary*; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000139:chemically induced*; D008297:Male; D012661:Semen; D055101:Semen Analysis / Q000662:veterinary*; D012726:Sexual Behavior, Animal; D017329:Triptorelin Pamoate / Q000031:analogs & derivatives
chemical_list: D003272:Contraceptive Agents, Male; D004343:Drug Implants; D017329:Triptorelin Pamoate; C066438:deslorelin