BackgroundFor the last few years, researchers have been interested in developing a method for chemical sterilization which may be a better alternative to surgical castration. An ideal chemical sterilant would be one that effectively arrests spermatogenesis and androgenesis as well as libido with absence of toxic or other side effects. Calcium chloride in various solutions and concentrations has been tested in many animal species, but few studies have been evaluated it in equines as a chemical sterilant. So, the objective of this study was to evaluate the clinical efficacy of chemical castration with 20 % calcium chloride dissolved in absolute ethanol in comparison with surgical castration in donkeys based on the changes in the serum testosterone level and the histopathological changes in treated testes.MethodsTwelve clinically healthy adult male donkeys were used in this study. Donkeys were divided randomly and equally into two groups: a surgical (S) group (n = 6) and a chemical (C) group (n = 6). Animals in the (S) group were subjected to surgical castration while those in the (C) group received a single bilateral intratesticular injection of 20 % calcium chloride dissolved in absolute ethanol (20 ml/testis). Animals were kept under clinical observation for 60 days. Changes in animals' behavior and gross changes in external genitalia were monitored daily. Serum concentrations of testosterone were measured prior to treatment and at 15, 30, 45 and 60 days post-treatment. Testicles in the (C) group were examined histopathologically at the end of the experiment.ResultsChemical castration with intratesticular calcium chloride vs. surgical castration failed to reduce serum concentrations of testosterone throughout the whole duration of the study; however it induced orchitis that was evident by focal necrotic areas in seminiferous tubules, cellular infiltration of neutrophils, proliferative intertubular fibrosis with a compensatory proliferation of Leydig cells. Donkeys tolerated the intratesticular injection of calcium chloride. There were no detectable changes in the general health status of the animals with the exception of swelling in external genitalia, scrotal ulcerations and fistulas. Food and water consumption and the gait of animals remained unaffected.ConclusionIntratesticular calcium chloride can’t be considered an effective method for chemical castration in donkeys.

Background: Castration is a husbandry practice raising important questions on the welfare and physiological status of farm animals. Searching for effective castration methods that minimally compromise the body physiology is worthy of attention. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the differential response of biological systems in donkeys to surgical castration versus the chemical one by CaCl 2 with special emphasis on stress, lipid profile, and oxidative stress biomarkers. Donkeys were divided randomly and equally into two groups; the chemical (Ch) and surgical (S) groups (n = 6). The Ch group was chemically castrated by intratesticular injection of 20% CaCl 2 dissolved in absolute ethanol. Blood samples were collected prior to castration and at 15, 30, 45, and 60 days after the beginning of experiment. Results: Surprisingly, the Ch group at the end of the experiment was characterized by significantly higher cortisol level compared to the S group. TC and LDL-C levels in the S group significantly decreased at day 45, while TG levels significantly increased at days 45 and 60 in comparison with day 0. HDL-C levels at days 30 and 60 in the Ch group significantly increased in comparison with day 0. At day 30 post-castration, HDL-C was significantly higher and LDL-C was significantly lower in the Ch group than the S group. A significant elevation in TC and LDL-C was observed at day 45 and in HDL-C at the end of experimental duration in the Ch group when compared with the S group. TPX level was significantly lower and TAC was significantly higher in the Ch group at day 45 than the S group. Conclusion: Surgical castration evoked less stress and minor changes in lipid profile and oxidant/antioxidant balance relative to chemical castration by intratesticular 20% CaCl 2 dissolved in absolute ethanol.

No abstract

This study was designed to investigate the relationship between progesterone (P4), estradiol (E2), nitric oxide (NO), and blood flow (BF) of ovarian follicle after estrous synchronization in Sa'idi goats. Thirty goats were injected with PGF2α , then immediately after they received an intravaginal Progestagen impregnated sponge for 5 days. At the time of sponge removal, the goats were divided into two groups; group 1 was injected with PMSG and group 2 was injected with GnRH. The day of Progestagen withdrawal was considered as Day 0.Arbitrary-scale, blood flow area (BA) and blood flow area percent (BA%) were used to assess the follicle blood flow (FBF) in color Doppler images. The results showed that follicular wave emergence occurred in PMSG group significantly earlier (P<0.05) than in GnRH group. There was a significant difference between groups (P<0.001) and group by day interaction (P<0.001) in BA and BA%. The P4 and E2 levels showed an effect of group (P<0.001) and effect of group by day interaction (P<0.001).The NO revealed only a significant difference between group by day interaction (P<0.001). The increase in E2 was associated with a marked increase in NO and follicular growth. In both groups, P4 was negatively correlated with NO; however, the E2 and BF were positively correlated with NO. All correlations were significant (P < 0.0001).The data of the present study, concluded a positive correlation between E2, NO and BF in goats.

The camel forms an integral part of the culture and agriculture of many countries and has done so for thousands of years. How it integrates varies greatly from; the supremerely sophisticated racing camel in the Arabian Gulf. This study aimed to explore the oxidative stress index (OSI, a ratio between pro-oxidants and antioxidants) in the blood serum of camels (Camelus dromedaries) during the peripartum period. Sera samples were collected from ten late pregnant and ten non-pregnant, non-lactating (as a baseline status, BL) multiparous nomadic Balady camels in their natural habitat in the Egyptian oases concerning sampling weekly throughout the last three weeks prepartum, day of calving and weekly throughout the first three weeks postpartum. Total oxidant status (TOS) and total oxidant capacity (TAC) did not differ between pre and postpartum periods and they were within the values of the basal non pregnant-non lactating (NPNL) state. At parturition the values were higher (P < 0.05) than the peripartum and the BL concentrations. Accordingly, the calculated OSI values showed a roughly stable trend (P > 0.05) and did not achieve a clear tendency or statistical significance among sampling times. A positive correlation of TOS with oxidant stress index (0SI) (P<0.001) and TAC (P < 0.001) was noticed. From a redox standpoint, the stability of OSI indicates that the redox system is adapted to the homeostatic status during the peripartum period in nomadic camels. This may indicate that, OSI is not a challenge of these peripartum camels, where the generated redox oxidative stress (ROS) is attacked by a superior defense potential to neutralize it. This study may aid in a better understanding of the physiological adaptation mechanisms of camels and may be useful for comparative studies with other species.