Effects of short-term administration of melatonin before gonadectomy on oxidative stress, cortisol and sex hormones in male dogs.

The aim of this study was to investigate gonadectomy stress, steroid hormones and serotonin in male dogs treated with melatonin before gonadectomy. Twenty-five mixed breed adult dogs were divided into five equal groups. The melatonin and melatonin + gonadectomized groups received melatonin treatment (3 mg/10 Kg, PO, TID) the day before gonadectomy; the gonadectomized and anaesthesia groups did not receive melatonin; and the control group just received the melatonin vehicle. Blood sampling was performed before melatonin administration (day -1) and on days 0 (gonadectomy), 1, 3 and 6 after gonadectomy. Superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase concentrations decreased significantly in gonadectomized dogs compared with dogs treated with melatonin before gonadectomy and intact dogs. Gonadectomy led to a significant decrease in catalase concentration in gonadectomized dogs compared with other study groups. Malondialdehyde levels increased significantly in gonadectomized dogs compared with other groups. Melatonin administration before gonadectomy led to decreased malondialdehyde concentration in gonadectomized and intact dogs compared to the control group. Cortisol concentration increased significantly in gonadectomized dogs compared to the control dogs. Serotonin levels decreased in gonadectomized dogs, but melatonin treatment increased serotonin concentration in gonadectomized and intact dogs. Melatonin treatment before gonadectomy suppressed oxidative stress and the cortisol but increased serotonin level.

Echotexture Analysis of Prostate Parenchyma for Detection of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia in Dogs.

Ultrasonography is one of the most common methods for the diagnosis of prostate disorders, such as benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), in dogs. Changes in the echotexture are one of the indicators used to diagnose prostate disorders. The purpose of this study was to investigate the changes occurred in the dogs' prostate echotexture during the induction of BPH using image analysis. Twenty sexually mature male intact mixed-breed dogs were selected and divided randomly into control and BPH-induced groups. BPH was induced using testosterone and estrogen injections for 63 days. The ultrasound imaging of the dogs' prostate was performed during the induction of BPH on days 0, 21, 42, and 63. The echotexture of the prostate parenchyma was analyzed using the Image J software. Then, the changes in the echotexture and its correlation and linear regression with the prostate volume and canine prostate specific esterase (CPSE) concentration were evaluated by statistical tests. The prostate parenchyma echotexture did not show any significant changes during the induction of BPH and in comparison with that of the control group. While prostate volume and CPSE concentration increased significantly, indicating that BPH was induced in the dogs. There was no significant correlation and linear regression between the prostate echotexture and prostate volume or between the CPSE concentration and prostate echotexture. According to the results, the alteration in the prostate parenchymal echotexture did not occur in the early stages of induced BPH, but significant changes occurred in the prostate volume and CPSE concentration during those early stages.

A preliminary study of transabdominal ultrasonic wave treatment on the germinal tissues of dog ovaries as a contraceptive approach.

The aim of this study was to investigate effects in dogs of ultrasonic waves on the ovarian germinal tissues. There was assignment of ovaries of each dog being a control (right ovary) or treated (left ovary) tissue, regardless of the estrous cycle status. For the treated ovary, the ultrasonic probe was set at a frequency of 1 MHz and power of 1.5 W/cm2 and placed on the skin at a location in close proximity to the left ovary that was predetermined using ultrasonography. Subsequently there was a focusing of the waves for 5 min on the tissues of the treated ovary. The treatment was repeated three times at 48 -h intervals. There was placement of the probe at the same proximity to the control ovary; however, the probe was not activated. Ovariectomies for histological examination were performed 30 (five dogs) and 60 (five dogs) days following the ultrasonic treatments. Histopathological examination results indicated there was a reduction in numbers of primordial follicles of four dogs and oocyte degeneration in the Graafian and primordial follicles of five dogs. In most dogs, the degeneration of the granulosa cells of the Graafian follicle was observed in the treated ovaries. The results indicate the treatment of ovaries with transabdominal ultrasonic waves at a 1 MHz frequency, and 1.5 W/cm2 power for three times with each treatment lasting for 5 min at a 48-h interval, did not result in complete ablation of the germinal tissues of the ovary during the 2-month period subsequent to treatment.

The effects of therapeutic ultrasound waves on testicular tissue, echogenicity, semen quality, oxidative stress, and acute-phase proteins in dogs.

The application of high-intensity ultrasound waves has been investigated as one of the non-invasive methods of contraception in several species. This study was aimed to investigate the mechanism of contraception in dogs using ultrasound waves by measuring acute-phase proteins and oxidative stress indices. Ten mixed-breed adult and fertile dogs were divided into two equal treatment and control groups. The dogs' testes in the treatment group were exposed to ultrasound waves at an intensity of 1.5 W/cm2 and a frequency of 1 MHz, 3 times for 5 min, and every 48 h. Blood sampling (before exposure, and 3, 5, 7, 21, 35, 49, and 63 days after exposure), semen collection (before exposure, and 4, 6, and 8 weeks after exposure), testicular ultrasonography (before exposure, and 4, 6, and 8 weeks after exposure), and testis histopathology (30 and 60 days after exposure) were performed during the study. The echogenicity of the dogs' testes significantly increased in the treatment group from week 6 onwards (P = 0.001). The concentration and progressive motility of spermatozoa in all samples, from both the control and the treatment groups, were normal at different times during the study. There was no significant change in the concentration of serum testosterone. The activity of superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase enzymes on days 3, 5, and 7 and catalase activity on day 3 significantly decreased in the treatment group compared to those of the control group (P = 0.006). In addition, malondialdehyde concentration significantly increased in the treatment group on days 3, 5, and 7 (P < 0.0001). The concentrations of C-reactive protein, serum amyloid A, and alpha-1-acid glycoprotein significantly increased on days 3, 5, and 7 compared to those of the control group (P = 0.005). To sum up, high-intensity ultrasound waves could activate the process of the acute phase response of inflammation and oxidative stress and induce further damage to the testicular tissue in dogs. This was mainly observed in the first week after the testes were exposed to ultrasound waves.