Two Cases of Bovine Male Pseudohermaphrodites with Different Endocrinological and Pathological Findings

Abstract

ABSTRACT. Two cases of bovine male pseudohermaphrodites (PH) were subjected for clinical investigation with transrectal ultrasonography, endocrinology with adoption of hCG-stimulation test, cytogenetics with analysis of sex chromosome and Y-specific DNA, and finally histological examination. Results were compared with normal calves. Case 1 was a 10-month-old calf with XX/XY chimeras, showing elevation of testosterone (T) levels, but no change in progesterone (P 4 ) after hCG test, and possessed atrophied testes in the cavitas pelvis. Case 2 was an 18-month-old calf with SRY positive-XY chromosome, showing lower level of plasma T and P 4 after hCG test, and possessed atrophied testes and undifferentiated genital ducts. Both cases possessed female-like external genitalia with similar pathological findings, however endocrinological and cytogenetical aspects were different each other.KEY WORDS: atrophied testis, hCG stimulation test, male pseudohermaphrodite, sex chromosome, ultrasonography.J. Vet. Med. Sci. 72(4): 507-510, 2010 Abnormal development of the reproductive organs occurs with different incidence in several species [11,17]. A male or a female pseudohermaphrodite (PH) depends upon the nature of the gonadal tissues. PH has either a testis or an ovary, and possesses external genitalia resembling the opposite sex [8,9,12,15]. PH has been reported in several species, but sporadic in cattle. There are limited cases reports concerning bovine PH, however these often lack general investigation in endocrinological aspect for gonadal function, comparing external and internal genitalia using ultrasonography, or chromosomal examination [5,8,16]. In the present study, we investigated two cases of male PH, which had different nature of endocrinological, cytogenetical and pathophysiological findings. In comparison with PH cases for novel trial, normal male and female calves were examined in the same manner as controls on the stand point for clinical investigation.Case 1: A 10-month old Japanese brown was born to male calf co-twins, and possessed female-like external genitalia showing urination toward upper direction. Coat and skin in neck region seemed to be masculine as the animal had grown. The animal showed a 3 cm in length of labia-like orifice (not vagina), but neither uterus and ovary nor testes were detected in the cavitas pelvis by rectal palpation. In addition, spiral stick-like structure (4  3 cm ) beneath the anal orifice was observed with trasrectal ultrasonography equipped with a 7.5 MHz linear-array transducer (SonoSite Case 2: An 18-month-old Japanese black, which had normal female-like external genitalia, but lacked estrous behavior in life. The vestibule of vagina was 13 cm in length; however neither uterus nor ovary was detected with rectal palpation. With transrectal ultrasonography, a pair of testes like organs (5  3 cm) with mediastinum was depicted (Fig. 1c).In order to investigate endocrinological aspects, 3,000 IU of human chronic gonadotropin (hCG; Veterinary Puberogen ® , Sankyo, Tokyo, Ja...

A Very Rare Clinical Case of a Holstein Heifer with Two Vulvae and a Scrotum

“…Based on these considerations, we argue that this case is not a freemartin condition, and the genital tract anomalies are probably associated with a genetic defect or due to a disrupted embryonic development of the genital tract as reported by Payan-Carreira et al [2008]. The peculiar aspect of our case is a female by genetic and gonadal control with partial masculinization of the external and internal genitalia, which is generally defined as a pseudohermaphrodite in the literature [Moriyama et al, 2010]. The reasons for these malformations are not clear, but Takagi et al [2005] suggested that the degree of abnormality of the sex organs depends on the time of prenatal development at which sexual differentiation gets retarded or interrupted.…”

“…The singleton birth of freemartins has been rarely reported in the literature, although they have been suspected for some time [Makinen, 1974]. Male and female pseudohermaphrodites occur with different incidence in several species [Veitia et al, 2001;Payan-Carreira et al, 2008] but have been less frequently reported in the literature [Takagi et al, 2005;Moriyama et al, 2010]. The internal and external genitalia of previously described bovine pseudohermaphrodite cases resembled the opposite sex [Takagi et al, 2005;Moriyama et al, 2010].…”

“…Male and female pseudohermaphrodites occur with different incidence in several species [Veitia et al, 2001;Payan-Carreira et al, 2008] but have been less frequently reported in the literature [Takagi et al, 2005;Moriyama et al, 2010]. The internal and external genitalia of previously described bovine pseudohermaphrodite cases resembled the opposite sex [Takagi et al, 2005;Moriyama et al, 2010]. Payan-Carreira et al [2008] reported a complex intersex condition (XX) in a Holstein calf with gonadal dysplasia combined with genital tract anomalies.…”

A Clinical Case of an <b><i>SRY</i></b>-Positive Intersex/Hermaphrodite Holstein Cattle

“…Moreover, in both cases, the presence of SRY could not be demonstrated [Dunn et al, 1968[Dunn et al, , 1970Berta et al, 1990]. Recently, Moriyama et al [2010] described 2 cases of bovine male pseudohermaphrodites with different endocrinological and pathological findings, while an SRY-positive bovine mosaic female pseudohermaphrodite was described by Takagi et al [2005]. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first report of an SRY -positive Holstein cattle hermaphrodite.…”

“…In addition, gain or loss of function of SOX9 leads to XX and XY sex reversal [Harikae et al, 2012]. In farm animals, female pseudohermaphroditism is less common than male pseudohermaphroditism [Moriyama et al, 2010]; in fact, there are few reports of female pseudohermaphrodite cattle with normal karyotype (60,XX) [Burton and Momont, 1986;Takagi et al, 2005]. True bovine hermaphroditism has rarely been reported in the literature, and the cases differ from one another in their features [Dunn et al, 1968[Dunn et al, , 1970Cribiu et al, 1989;Cole et al, 1997;Meinecke et al, 2007].…”