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Deslorelin Implants in Pre‐pubertal Female Dogs: Short‐ and Long‐Term Effects on the Genital Tract
Author(s) -
Marino G,
Rizzo S,
Quartuccio M,
Macrì F,
Pagano G,
Taormina A,
Cristarella S,
Zanghì A
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
reproduction in domestic animals
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.546
H-Index - 66
eISSN - 1439-0531
pISSN - 0936-6768
DOI - 10.1111/rda.12272
Subject(s) - estrous cycle , uterus , medicine , follicular phase , sex organ , endocrinology , ovary , juvenile , physiology , biology , genetics
Contents Deslorelin acetate is a G n RH agonist used for contraception in dogs. This study aimed to evaluate the treatment of pre‐pubertal female dogs with deslorelin acetate implants, to better investigate the primary stimulatory effect of the drug and the long‐term effects on the genital tract, throughout repeated treatments. Sicilian hound female dogs (24) were randomly assigned to treated group, control group 1 and control group 2. First group bitches were implanted at 4.5, 9.0 and 13.5 months and monitored clinically, ultrasonographically and endocrinologically, throughout the study period (13.5 months). Control group 1 bitches were not implanted and clinically monitored for the same period. At 18 months, the animals underwent ovariohysterectomy, thus allowing evaluation of the internal genitalia. Control group 2 bitches were ovariohysterectomized at the age of 4.5 months. The suppression of oestrus was obtained in the treated group despite the fact that the first implant caused a modest increase in plasmatic levels of 17‐beta estradiol and an evident cornification of the vaginal mucosa cells (50–80%). Estradiol and progesterone were at baseline levels for the remaining study period, in which no other oestrous manifestations were observed. The external genitalia maintained a juvenile appearance. The ovaries, ultrasonographically, showed no follicular structures and stayed the same size. At 18 months, the genital tract was still juvenile with inactive small ovaries and a thin filiform uterus. Deslorelin suppressed ovarian activity in pre‐pubertal bitches, and oestrous induction was not observed despite the presence of the primary stimulatory effect of the drug. Juvenile genitalia were an expected side effect of the treatment.