Reproductive and endocrinological effects of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia and finasteride therapy in dogs

Abstract

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is one of the most important reproductive disorders in aging dogs. Therapeutic measures include orchiectomy and pharmacological treatment, leading to reduction of prostate volume and clinical signs. One of the most common drugs used in BPH treatment is finasteride, but data regarding its possible side effects are scarce. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of BPH and short-term (2 months) finasteride therapy on clinical, endocrinological, and reproductive parameters in dogs. Dogs were allocated into four experimental groups: Non-affected (n = 5), BPH (n = 5), Non-Affected-Finasteride (n = 5) and BPH-Finasteride (n = 5) groups. Dogs were evaluated monthly during 2 months by a complete breeding soundness examination, B-mode ultrasound and Doppler ultrasonography of the testicular artery, hormonal profile (testosterone, estrogen and dihydrotestosterone) and oxidative profile of the prostatic fluid. After 2 months, dogs were gonadectomized and testicles were subjected to histologic analysis. Finasteride treatment reduced dihydrotestosterone concentrations, without negative influence on semen quality and also reverted testicular hemodynamics changes of BPH. On the other hand, BPH was accompanied by significant changes in testosterone and estrogen concentrations and semen quality, mainly related to sperm kinetics alterations. In conclusion, BPH dogs have important hormonal and sperm alterations, however, short-term finasteride treatment (2 months) was able to reduce overall effects of BPH, thus representing a method of therapy for BPH treatment.

Frozen-Thawed Sperm Analysis of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia Dogs Treated With Finasteride

“…The mixed probe solution was added to diluted sperm and incubated at 37°C for 5 min. Subsequently, 300 μL of TALP was added and analyzed by flow cytometry, according to the protocol previously described ( 2 ). For the analysis of sperm mitochondrial potential, 1 μL of 50 μg/mL JC-1 probe (5,5', 6,6' tetrachloro-1,1,3,3'-tetraethylbenzimidazolylcarbocyanine iodide) was added to diluted sperm.…”

“…Nowadays, canine geriatric patients are referred to assisted reproduction services aiming to achieve a better reproductive performance, since several aging diseases directly affect their reproductive potential (1). In this respect, Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) is a highly frequent reproductive disease of elderly, non-castrated dogs, negatively affecting male reproductive performance (2)(3)(4)(5).…”

“…For the medical treatment of BPH, drugs that reduce prostatic enlargement and hormonal imbalance are preconized. For such purpose, finasteride is the drug of choice for breeding dogs, by leading to reduction in prostatic volume and blood supply (6) and maintaining semen quality and testicular integrity even after two months of treatment (2,13). Finasteride is a 5α-reductase inhibitor, which decreases 70% of circulating dihydrotestosterone (DHT) levels (14).…”

“…In a reproductive point of view, BPH is marked by prostate enlargement with significant sperm alterations, such as DNA fragmentation ( 3 , 6 ), motility kinetics ( 2 ), oxidative stress status ( 5 ) and high percentage of sperm defects ( 2 ). The causes under BPH altered sperm features are related to a remarkable hormonal imbalance, affecting both spermatogenesis and epididymal maturation ( 7 , 8 ).…”

A Comparative Study of the Effects of Osaterone Acetate and Deslorelin Acetate on Sperm Kinematics and Morpho-Functional Parameters in Dogs

“…This substance acts as inhibitor of 5α-reductase by blocking its enzymatic action. Finasteride effectiveness was also proved in dogs, reducing DHT level resulting in decreasing prostatic size and clinical signs related to BPH [ 7 ].…”