Effect of immunocastration on sex glands of male Mangulica (Swallow-bellied Mangalitsa) pigs

Gogić, Marija; Radović, Čedomir; Čandek-Potokar, Marjeta; Petrović, Milica; Radojković, Dragan; Parunović, Nenad; Savić, Radomir

doi:10.1590/rbz4820180286

Cited by 6 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 17 publications

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“…In comparison to boars, all reproductive organs of immunocastrates were significantly lighter. These findings are in full agreement with several studies [49][50][51] which show a significant impact of treatment with Improvac ® on the development of the male genital tract. The different compartments, however, were affected to a various degree.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 93%

Influence of Housing Conditions on Reliability of Immunocastration and Consequences for Growth Performance of Male Pigs

Kress

Weiler

Schmucker

et al. 2019

Animals

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Simple Summary: Surgical castration of male piglets is societally criticized as it is painful and violates the integrity of the animals. Pork production with boars and immunocastrates are possible alternatives. Even if immunocastration is an animal-welfare-friendly alternative, its market share is low and the reliability of this technique is discussed controversially within the pork chain. Currently, the number and the reason for non-responders to vaccination are not clear. Various factors may contribute to impaired immune response including adverse and stressful housing conditions. This study, therefore, examines the influence of different housing conditions on the immune response after two Improvac ® vaccinations. To determine vaccination success, testosterone concentrations, GnRH-binding, and boar taint compounds were evaluated. Furthermore, the growth performance of male pigs was compared. The results show that immunocastration is reliable under different housing systems and prevents boar taint. Moreover, the growth performance of immunocastrates is high and even superior to that of boars and barrows after the 2nd vaccination. Accordingly, immunocastration is not only animal-welfare-friendly but also economically attractive and suitable for different housing systems.Abstract: Immunocastration is a sustainable alternative to piglet castration but faces limited market acceptance. The phenomenon of non-responders has not to date been examined in detail, but adverse and stressful housing conditions (e.g., mixing of groups) might impair the success of vaccinations. Therefore, we evaluated the influence of housing conditions on the immune response after two Improvac ® vaccinations at an age of 12 and 22 weeks, respectively. Boars, immunocastrates and barrows (n = 48 each) were assigned to three different housing conditions (n = 36 enriched, n = 36 standard n = 72 repeated social mixing). Immune response was quantified by measuring GnRH-binding and its consequences for testosterone concentrations, development of the genital tract and boar taint. Growth performance was evaluated via average daily gain (ADG). GnRH-binding and testosterone levels revealed that immunocastration reliably suppressed testicular functions after the 2nd vaccination. Housing conditions did not modify testicular function but influenced ADG as animals under mixing grew slower than those under enriched conditions. Gonadal status had only a slight impact on ADG except in immunocastrates, which showed a temporarily higher ADG after the 2nd vaccination. The results show that immunocastration is a reliable procedure under different housing conditions and competitive in terms of growth performance.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 93%

Influence of Housing Conditions on Reliability of Immunocastration and Consequences for Growth Performance of Male Pigs

Kress

Weiler

Schmucker

et al. 2019

Animals

Self Cite

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“…As an alternative to surgery, immunological castration has its pros and cons (Bonneau & Weiler, 2019). According to scientific reports, immunological castration affects morphometric parameters of the testicles in male pigs (Gogić et al, 2019), and other reproductive organs (Škrlep et al, 2012). Histological changes in the tubules and the interstitial tissue of the testicle are also objective parameters of successful castration.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of immunological castration of male pigs on morphological and functional con-dition of the testicles

Samoilіuk

Koziy

Bilyi

et al. 2021

Regul. Mech. Biosyst.

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Changes in the priorities of the treatment of animals in the conditions of intense technology of production of livestock products are based on the necessity of wellbeing of animals. Therefore, there is a need of search for and broad introduction of generally accepted alternatives to surgery, which would use modern means of castration, particularly immunocastration. The study presents morpho-functional substantiation of practicability of using immunological castration in the conditions of industrial production of pork. At the same time, we studied immunological castration using Improvak on the morphological and physiological condition of the testicles of male pigs. The testosterone level was determined using radioimmunologic method after 2, 4, 6, 8 weeks of immunological and surgical castrations, and also in intact boars of the control group. During the slaughter, we selected biopates of the testicles in immunological castrates and pigs of the control group for histological examination. The testosterone level 2 weeks after castration was the lowest in the animals castrated using Improvak. This indicator gradually increased, and after 8 weeks was higher than in the surgically castrated pigs. In the latter, the level of testosterone gradually decreased for 8 weeks, and did not significantly change in non-castrated pigs. The last stages of spermatogenesis in immunocastrates were inhibited after the second vaccination. As a result of immunological castration, the interstitial tissue of the testicle underwent changes. Between the tubules, a spreading of the loose connective tissue was observed. Leydig cells lost hyper chromaticity of the cytoplasm and typical polygonal profile, and their functional potential decreased. This fact was confirmed by the changes in the Hertwig’s ratio. In particular, we observed decrease in the value of the nuclear-cytoplasmic ratio. There were also a time shift of mitotic cycle, low degree of differentiation of spermatogonia and rupture of the course of the subsequent stages of spermatogenesis. However, there occurred multiplication of primary spermatogonia, single cellular divisions, and in the ductus deferentes, there could be found single spermatids. Some of them formed specific cellular groups of rounded and elliptic shapes in the seminiferous tubules. These structures were absent in the testicles of the control animals. Microstructural changes in the swine after injecting Improvak were characterized by deficiency of Leydig cells, indicating absence of the normal hormonal background, as confirmed by the results of the study of testosterone level. The epithelium-spermatogenic layer was underdeveloped, and the lumens of the tubules were in some places filled with generations of spermatocytes. In some places, meiosis was observed, which also indicates insignificant functioning of the testicles. Vaccination with Improvak caused atrophy of the testicles in swine and decrease in their functional condition, allowing it to be recommended it for broader application as an alternative to surgical castration.

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“…In an experiment with immunocastrated pigs, Andreo et al (2018) affirmed that there is individual variation in the antibody titers generated by the vaccine among animals due to factors such as genetics, nutritional status, age and stress at the time of application, which explains the fact that in the present study animals have different responses to treatment. Gogić et al (2019) with swine, which found a reduction of 28.9 to 54.4% in the testis volumes and weights of immunocastrated animals compared to control animals. According to Lents et al (2018) these reductions in testicular volumes can be attributed to a reduction in the diameters of seminiferous tubules and the reduced mitotic capacity of sperm cells after the application of the anti-GnRH vaccine.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 94%

Efficiency of the anti-GnRH vaccine for castration of lambs intended for finishing in pastures

Bonin

Ítavo

et al. 2021

Semina: Ciênc. Agrár.

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It was aimed to evaluate anti-GnRH vaccine efficiency on productive characteristics, seminal performance, size, and histology of testicles of lambs submitted to immunocastration. Twenty contemporary Texel lambs were evaluated, being 10 animals received two doses of 1 mL of anti-GnRH vaccine and 10 received two doses of 1 mL of saline, with an interval of 30 days. Seminal characteristics, weight and histological cut for the testicles, productive performance, and blood parameters were analyzed. Andrological monitoring was carried out every 30 days. All animals were kept on pasture of Urochloa spp. receiving daily supplementation protein-energetic by 90 days. There was effect of immunocastration on slaughter weight (44.3 vs. 48.3 kg), total gain (9.9 vs. 10.3 kg), daily gain (104.5 vs. 108.9 g/day), and feed conversion (5.83 vs. 5.97) respectively to immunocastrated and intact lambs. There was immunocastration effect on testicle weight (0.09 vs. 0.35 g), motility (4.5 vs. 61.0%), vigor (0.40 vs. 3.00), volume (0.09 vs. 0.74 mL) and swirling (0.20 vs. 2.70) in the third semen collection. Immunocastration through two doses of 1 mL of anti-GnRH vaccine with a 30-day interval between doses, causes infertility in sheep and can be adopted for lambs.

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Effect of immunocastration on sex glands of male Mangulica (Swallow-bellied Mangalitsa) pigs

Cited by 6 publications

References 17 publications

Influence of Housing Conditions on Reliability of Immunocastration and Consequences for Growth Performance of Male Pigs

Influence of Housing Conditions on Reliability of Immunocastration and Consequences for Growth Performance of Male Pigs

Effect of immunological castration of male pigs on morphological and functional con-dition of the testicles

Efficiency of the anti-GnRH vaccine for castration of lambs intended for finishing in pastures

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