29 research outputs found

    Identification of a novel kisspeptin with high gonadotrophin stimulatory activity in the dog

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    Kisspeptin (KISS1) and its receptor (KISS1r) are essential for normal reproductive function in many species, but the role of kiss1/kiss1r signalling in the dog has not yet been elucidated. The aims of this study were to identify the canine kiss1 and kiss1r genes and to determine gonadotrophin and oestradiol stimulatory activity of KP-10, the shortest biologically active form of KISS1. Canine kiss1 and kiss1r genes were localized by comparing the reference dog genome with relevant human cDNA sequences, using BLASTn software. The amino acid sequence of canine KP-10 (YNWN V FGLR Y ) differs at two positions from human KP-10 (YNWN S FGLR F ). A single bolus of canine KP-10 was administered intravenously to anoestrous Beagle bitches in dosages of 0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.5, 1, 5, 10, and 30 μg/kg. Blood samples were collected before and after canine KP-10 administration for the measurement of plasma luteinizing hormone (LH, all doses), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and oestradiol (1-30 μg/kg). From 0.2 μg/kg onwards, canine KP-10 resulted in a rapid and robust rise in plasma LH concentration (max. at 10 min). KP-10 also resulted in a rapid and robust rise in plasma FSH concentration (max. at 10-20 min). Plasma oestradiol concentration increased significantly after dosages of 1, 5, and 10 μg/kg and reached a maximum at 60-90 min. In conclusion, canine KP-10 is a potent kisspeptin which elicits robust gonadotrophin and oestradiol responses in anoestrous bitches, suggesting that canine kiss1/kiss1r are cogent targets for modulating reproduction in dogs.Medical Research Council, the National Research Foundation, the Technology Innovation Agency and the University of Pretoria.http://www.karger.com/Journal/Home/223855hb201

    Questionnaire-based survey of parturition in the queen

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    The lack of scientific data concerning whether parturition in the queen proceeds normally or not may prevent veterinarians and cat owners from recognizing parturition problems in time. A questionnaire-based study of parturition in 197 queens was performed to determine several parameters of parturition and their influence on its progress. The mean length of gestation was 65.3 days (range 57 to 72 days) and it decreased with increasing litter size (P = 0.02). The median litter size was 4.5 kittens (range 1 to 9), with more males (53%) than females (46%) (P = 0.05). Sixty-nine percent of the kittens were born in anterior presentation and 31% in posterior presentation, indicating that either can be considered normal in the cat. Males were born in posterior position (34%) more often than females (26%) (P = 0.03). The mean birth weight was 98 g (range of 35 to 167 g) and decreased with increasing litter size (P <0.01). Mean birth weight was higher in males and kittens born in posterior presentation (P <0.01). Forty-four (5%) of the 887 kittens were stillborn. This was not correlated with the presentation at expulsion but stillborn kittens were more often female (P = 0.02) and weighed less than those born alive (P = 0.04). The median interkitten time was 30 min (range 2 to 343 min) and 95% were born within 100 min after expulsion of the preceding kitten. The interkitten time as a measure of the progress of parturition was not influenced by the kitten's gender, presentation at expulsion, birth weight, or stillbirth, or by the parity of the queen. The results of this study can be used to develop reference values for parturition parameters in the queen, both to determine whether a given parturition is abnormal and as the basis for a parturition protocol. © 2011 Elsevier Inc

    Effects of the 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase inhibitor trilostane on luteal progesterone production in the dog

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    Abstract Interference with the pregnancy-maintaining influence of progesterone is the basis of most methods for termination of unwanted pregnancy in dogs. The currently available methods are based on induction of luteolysis or blocking of the progesterone receptor. Inhibition of progesterone synthesis using a competitive inhibitor of 3 -hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3 -HSD) could be another strategy to terminate unwanted pregnancies. In this study we investigated the effects of the 3 -HSD inhibitor trilostane on corpus luteum function in non-pregnant bitches. Trilostane was administered orally for seven consecutive days in either the pituitary-independent part of the luteal phase (PIP, start of treatment on D11 after ovulation, n 6) or the pituitary-dependent part (PDP, start of treatment on D31 after ovulation, n 6), in an oral dose of about 4.5 mg/kg bw, twice daily. Results were compared with those obtained in control bitches (n 6). ACTH stimulation tests were performed to assess adrenocortical reserve capacity. Trilostane caused no apparent side effects and ACTH stimulation tests revealed good suppression of cortisol secretion. Trilostane also caused a significant decrease in plasma progesterone concentration. When it was stopped during PIP, progesterone secretion was completely restored and there was no difference in the length of the luteal phase between those dogs and control dogs (99 days, range 70–138 d and 99 d, range 60–112 d, respectively). When trilostane was stopped during PDP there was no post-treatment recovery of progesterone secretion and although the luteal phase tended to be shorter (66 d, range 41–101 d) the difference was not significant (P 0.09). Plasma prolactin concentration did not increase after the trilostane-induced decrease in plasma progesterone. The interoestrous interval in dogs treated during PIP (234 d, range 175–269 d) or PDP (198 d, range 120–287 d) was not significantly shorter than the control interval (247 d, range 176–313 d). In conclusion, trilostane treatment was effective in decreasing plasma progesterone concentration in bitches during the luteal phase, but the dose regimen used in this study produced less clear-cut inhibition of ovarian steroidogenesis than have other strategies to decrease plasma progesterone concentration. Further studies are warranted to determine whether trilostane can be used to terminate unwanted pregnancy in the bitch without inducing adrenocortical insufficiency. © 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved

    Disorders of sexual development and associated changes in the pituitary-gonadal axis in dogs.

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    Normal sexual differentiation depends on completion of chromosomal sex determination, gonadal differentiation, and development of the phenotypic sex. An irregularity in any of these three steps can lead to a disorder in sexual development (DSD). We examined nine dogs with DSD by abdominal ultrasonography, laparotomy, histologic examination of the gonads, and reproductive tract, cytogenetic analysis, and mRNA expression of the SRY gene. We also determined the plasma concentrations of luteinizing hormone (LH), estradiol-17 , and testosterone before and after administration of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) and compared these results with those obtained in anestrous bitches and male control dogs. The gonads of three dogs with DSD contained both testicular and ovarian tissue, while in the other six only testicular tissue was found. Each of the dogs had a uterus. Based on gynecologic examination, cytogenetic analysis, and the histology of the gonads, seven of the nine dogs appeared to be XX sex reversals. Three of these were XX true hermaphrodites and four were XX males; the other two dogs had incomplete XY gonadal dysgenesis. All seven XX sex-reversed dogs were found to be negative for the SRY gene by polymerase chain reaction. The basal plasma luteinizing hormone (LH) concentration was significantly higher in dogs with DSD than in anestrous bitches but not significantly different from that in male dogs. The basal plasma LH concentration increased significantly after GnRH administration in all dogs with DSD. The basal plasma estradiol concentration was significantly higher in dogs with DSD than in anestrous bitches but not significantly different from that in male dogs. The basal plasma testosterone concentration was lower in dogs with DSD than in male dogs. In all dogs with DSD both the basal and GnRH-induced plasma testosterone concentrations were above the upper limit of their respective ranges in the anestrous bitches. In conclusion, the secretion of LH and estradiol in these dogs with DSD, all of which had testicular tissue in their gonads, was similar to that in male control dogs. These results indicate that the basal and/or GnRH-stimulated plasma testosterone concentration might be used to detect the presence of testicular tissue in dogs with DSD
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