Sperm Quality and Histology of the Testis and Epididymis in Chemical Castrated Male Cats with Intra-testicular Injection of Sodium Chloride Solution

Abstract

The high population of feral cats in Bali, Indonesia, could be a problem associated with cat welfare and the risk of zoonotic diseases. Gonadectomy or male castration is an option for population control; however, there would be more economical ways to reach this goal. Sterilization using chemicals is an alternative to the surgical method of castration as it is reasonably priced, activated in a short time, and does not affect animal activity after the chemical administration. The present study aimed to evaluate intratesticular injection of Sodium chloride as an agent of chemosterilants in male cats. In the current study, 16 healthy male cats aged nearly one year old were randomly selected. The male cats were allocated into four groups containing four cats in each. Group 1 (control) received bilateral intratesticular injection with 0.25 mL normal saline solution containing 2% Lidocaine. The cats in groups 2, 3, and 4 received bilateral intratesticular injection of 0.25 mL Sodium chloride solution containing 2% Lidocaine with a concentration of 15%, 20%, and 25%, respectively. At the end of the study (after 30 days of injection), the cats were castrated and their testes were removed for sperm quality and histopathological evaluation. The results of the present study indicated that intratesticular injection of Sodium chloride significantly decreased the motility and viability rates, and increased the abnormalities of the sperms. Histopathological studies revealed marked depletion of spermatozoa in the testes and seminiferous tubular degeneration, seminiferous tubular atrophy, and epithelial cell vacuolation. In conclusion, the injection of 20-25% solution of Sodium chloride in testes had the potential as a chemosterilant for chemical sterilization in cats.