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The development of pain in young pigs associated with castration and attempts to prevent castration-induced behavioral changes.

Four experiments were conducted to examine the development of castration-induced behavioral changes, the effects of castration age on pig weight gain, and the efficacy of common analgesics for use in castrated pigs. In Exp. 1, behavioral changes associated with castration of pigs at 1, 5, 10, 15, or 20 d of age were evaluated. Castration caused measurable changes (reduced suckling, reduced standing, and increased lying times, P < .05) in the behavior of young pigs compared with that of intact pigs at all ages tested. Effects of age and interactions between age and castration treatment were not significant (P > .10) for any behaviors evaluated. In Exp. 2, the performance of pigs castrated at 1 d of age was compared with the performance of those castrated on d 14 and female littermates. Birth weights, weaning weights, and mortality were recorded. Pigs that were castrated on d 14 were heavier (P = .05) at weaning and had a higher (P < .05) weight gain during lactation compared to pigs castrated on d 1 of age. Pig mortality was similar among the treatments. In Exp. 3 and 4, the efficacies of pain-reducing drugs (non-narcotic analgesics) were evaluated for effectiveness in reducing castration-induced behavioral changes in 8-wk-old pigs. Although castration reduced (P < .05) feeding time and weight gain, neither aspirin nor butorphanol influenced behavioral changes associated with castration. We conclude that pigs show similar behavioral changes (and probably pain perception) when castrated from 1 to 20 d of age. However, pig performance data favored castration at 14 d rather than at 1 d of age.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Age Factors↗

Acute cortisol responses of lambs castrated and docked using rubber rings with or without a castration clamp.

OBJECTIVE: To measure the plasma cortisol response in lambs castrated and docked by three different methods (ring castration and tail docking, ring and clamp castration and tail docking; ring and clamp castration and ring tail docking) for 4 h after treatment. DESIGN: A physiological study with controls. PROCEDURE: A rubber ring was applied to the scrotum. Then the castration clamp was placed, distal to the ring, on each spermatic cord such that there was no overlap of the crush lines. RESULTS: There were no differences in the cortisol secretion of the lambs castrated and tail docked by the ring only and by the ring plus castration clamp methods. Using the castration clamp in addition to the ring on the tail had no effect on cortisol secretion. CONCLUSIONS: Using the castration clamp did not appear to reduce the cortisol response to ring castration and docking, as demonstrated elsewhere, because the areas of uncrushed tissue between the two castration clamp crush lines allowed nociception from ischemic scrotal tissue to be transmitted cranially via undamaged nerve fibers.

Analysis of Variance↗

Acute cortisol responses and wound healing in lambs after ring castration plus docking with or without application of a castration clamp to the scrotum.

OBJECTIVE: To test whether the cortisol response to ring castration plus docking is reduced by additional application of a castration clamp across the full width of the scrotum distal to the ring. DESIGN: A physiological study with controls. PROCEDURE: Lambs, 3 to 6 weeks of age, were castrated using a ring or ring plus castration clamp applied for 6 or 10 s and docked using a ring. Blood samples were taken before and regularly for about 4 h after treatment and analysed for plasma cortisol concentrations. The healing of the scrotal wounds was monitored for 6 weeks after castration. RESULTS: The plasma cortisol concentrations were lower only at 60 min after treatment in lambs castrated with a clamp placed on the scrotum for 10 s after ring castration and docking than in lambs castrated and docked by ring alone. Scrotal wounds healed more quickly after ring plus clamp than after ring only castration. CONCLUSIONS: The castration clamp had at most a marginal effect on the cortisol response to ring castration and docking of 3- to 6-week-old lambs, but it did seem to improve the rate of healing.

Animals↗

Estrogen treatment combined with castration inhibits tumor growth more effectively than castration alone in the Dunning R3327 rat prostatic adenocarcinoma.

This study was designed to investigate whether the combination of castration with estrogen treatment for 6 weeks (combined treatment) further inhibits growth of the Dunning R3327 rat prostatic adenocarcinoma as compared with castration alone. Combined treatment arrested tumor growth more effectively than castration. Combined treatment also induced morphological changes in both tumor stroma and epithelium that were not found in tumors from castrated animals. The volume density of the tumor epithelium was reduced and the volume density of the tumor stroma was increased by the combined treatment as compared with castration alone. The number of tumor epithelial cells was calculated by morphological methods: combined treatment lowered the number as compared with castration alone. The number of tumor epithelial cells was similar in castrated and intact rats. Both combined treatment and castration alone reduced tumor epithelium cell size as compared with tumors from intact rats. These findings suggest that estrogen may have direct effects on total number and function of prostatic tumor cells.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Castration decreases thrombocytopoiesis and testosterone restores platelet production in castrated BALB/c mice: evidence that testosterone acts on a bipotential hematopoietic precursor cell.

BALB/c male mice have higher platelet counts than female mice of the same strain. To test the hypothesis that testosterone influences platelet production, we evaluated indices of both red blood cell and platelet production in intact male BALB/c mice, in male mice 4 weeks after castration, and in castrated mice administered maintenance doses of testosterone as testosterone propionate. As predicted, castration resulted in decreased hematocrit and body weight in BALB/c mice. Body weights and hematocrits returned to noncastrated levels after 2 and 7 days, respectively, of administration of testosterone. Total circulating red blood cell mass and total circulating red blood cell count were both decreased by castration and were returned to control (noncastrated) levels after 2 days of testosterone therapy. Reticulocyte counts were not changed by castration, but they increased above counts of uncastrated and castrated control mice after 3 days of testosterone administration. White blood cell (WBC) numbers were unaffected by castration or testosterone administration. Additionally, platelet count (956 vs 834 x 10(3)/microliters), platelet size (3.87 vs 3.75 microns3), sulfur 35 incorporation into platelets (6.36 vs 4.87 x 10(-3)%), mean megakaryocyte ploidy (17.43N vs 16.89N), total circulating platelet mass (TCPM) (490 vs 379 x 10(8) microns3), and total circulating platelet count (TCPC) (131 vs 103 x 10(7)) were significantly (p < 0.05) decreased in castrated mice as compared with intact control mice.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

Ornithine decarboxylase and S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase activity in the accessory sex organs of intact, castrated, and androgen-stimulated castrated rats.

We have studied the activities of ornithine decarboxylase and adenosylmethionine decarboxylase in the 10(6)-m/s2 supernatants of the different lobes of the prostate and the seminal vesicles of castrates, androgen-stimulated castrates, and intact controls. After castration L-ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) and S-adenosyl-L-methionine decarboxylase (AMDC) activities fell in all tissues examined. The induction of kinetics was followed for 72 h after administration of testosterone propionate to castrated rats. AMDC activities increased more rapidly than ODC activities in every tissue studied. Peak activities were reached more rapidly in the dorsal lobe than in the other tissues. ODC activity of the ventral lobe increased linearly for 48 h after stimulation. In the other tissues studied, ODC activity reached a maximum after 24 h and thereafter leveled off or decreased. In conclusion we have found distinct differences in ODC and AMDC activity in various tissues and major differences between treatment groups, with near extinction of activity at castration. In castrates stimulated with testosterone, the between-group differences prevailed but with different patterns of ODC versus AMDC activity. AMDC is seemingly rate-limiting in polyamine synthesis in stimulated tissues, while ODC controls synthesis in tissues from castrated rats.

Adenosylmethionine Decarboxylase↗

Castration plus oestrogen treatment induces but castration alone suppresses epithelial cell apoptosis in an androgen-sensitive rat prostatic adenocarcinoma.

The positive effect of castration in prostatic cancer patients is considered to be related to the induction of apoptosis in androgen-dependent tumour cells. However, castration apparently does not induce apoptosis in the highly differentiated, androgen-sensitive Dunning R3327PAP rat prostatic adenocarcinoma. To elucidate potential mechanisms of apoptotic induction in this tumour model, rats with subcutaneously implanted tumours were treated with vehicle (I), castration+vehicle (C) or castration + 50 micrograms of oestradiol benzoate per day s.c. (C + E2). The effects on tumours were examined by morphometry, in situ end labelling (ISEL) of apoptotic cells and immunohistochemically with monoclonal antibodies to proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) at different time points up to 168 h after castration. Castration inhibited tumour growth and decreased the epithelial cell apoptotic rate (from 12 h) and epithelial cell proliferation rate (from 72 h) compared with that in the I group. Tumour volume, volume densities of epithelium and stroma and stroma cell proliferation rate remained constant in the C group during the study period. C + E2 treatment resulted in increases in cell proliferation in the stroma (from 12 h) and in the volume density of stroma (from 24 h) compared with that in the C and I groups. The number of apoptotic epithelial cells was increased (from 24 h), and this was followed by decreases in the volume density of epithelium (from 24 h), the epithelial cell proliferation rate (from 72 h) and the total tumour volume (from 72 h). We conclude that in the Dunning R3327PAP tumour model C + E2 treatment is more effective than castration alone. C+E2 treatment, in contrast to C, is able to induce tumour cell death and to decrease total tumour volume. The mechanism behind this effect is unknown, but it could be related to stimulatory effects of E2 in the tumour stroma.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Distribution of NMDAR1 receptor subunit mRNA and [125I]MK-801 binding in the hypothalamus of intact, castrate and castrate-DHTP treated male rats.

This study examines NMDAR1 receptor subunit mRNA expression and [125I]MK-801 binding in hypothalamic and limbic nuclei of intact, castrate and castrate-dihydrotestosterone propionate (DHTP)-treated male rats. In intact rats, the highest levels of NMDAR1 mRNA were observed in the supraoptic, suprachiasmatic, ventromedial and arcuate nuclei. Low levels of hybridization were observed in the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis, lateral preoptic area, lateral hypothalamic area and lateral septum. In castrated rats both NMDAR1 mRNA and [125I]MK-801 binding are significantly decreased in the lateral septum compared to castrate rats treated with DHTP, a non-aromatizable androgen. NMDAR1 mRNA was also significantly decreased in the supraoptic nucleus of castrate rats when compared to castrate rats treated with DHTP. These data suggest that androgens may modulate NMDA receptor function in some parts of the central nervous system.

Animals↗

Castration plus nilutamide vs castration plus placebo in advanced prostate cancer. A review.

Combination of antiandrogen treatment with surgical or medical castration should improve the efficacy of endocrine treatment of prostatic cancer by blocking the effects of adrenal androgens. A nonsteroidal antiandrogen, nilutamide, has shown promising results in preliminary open studies. In a short-term (29 days) comparison of nilutamide plus buserelin and buserelin plus placebo, nilutamide (300 mg/day), significantly reduced bone pain, and fewer patients experienced worsening pain than in the control group. The initial buserelin-induced increase in prostatic acid phosphatase was prevented by nilutamide, but there was a similar increase in testosterone and gonadotropin concentrations to that seen in the control group. Thus, nilutamide can prevent the tumor flare-up associated with the start of luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LH-RH) treatment, even though the endocrine responses are not affected. In three multicenter, randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled trials of castration and nilutamide involving 248 patients, the combination of nilutamide and castration decreased bone pain, improved performance status, and increased the number of patients with objective regression, compared with patients who were castrated but did not receive nilutamide. Nilutamide was generally well tolerated, though visual disorders, gastrointestinal disorders, and alcohol intolerance were reported in patients receiving nilutamide. The results suggest that nilutamide improves the efficacy of castration in patients with prostatic cancer. Current studies are investigating the effects of this treatment on survival and the risk-benefit ratio.

Androgen Antagonists↗

Thiamine pyrophosphatase activity in secretory cells of the lateral prostate and seminal vesicle of normal and castrated guinea pigs and castrates treated with oestradiol.

Ultrastructural localization of thiamine pyrophosphatase (TPPase) activity was studied in secretory cells of the lateral prostate and seminal vesicle of normal and castrated guinea pigs and castrates treated with 17 beta-oestradiol benzoate. The present study has demonstrated that TPPase reaction product is consistently localized in the three to four trans cisternae of Golgi complexes in both the lateral prostate and the seminal vesicle. The reaction was intense and the reaction product often filled the cisternae completely. After castration there was a decrease in TPPase activity in both glands as revealed by the reduction in the amount of the reaction product which was found mainly in one to two trans cisternae of the regressed Golgi complex. The reaction product changed from a dense to a more particulate or granular pattern or to discrete deposits of high electron-density. Administration of 17 beta-oestradiol benzoate to the castrates caused changes in the localization and patterns of distribution of TPPase. In the lateral prostate there was an apparent increase in TPPase activity. The reaction product was found in two to four trans cisternae and occasionally in the trans-most cisternae of the dilated Golgi complex. The reaction product appeared as discrete, dense coarse precipitates. In the seminal vesicle TPPase reaction product was consistently found in one to two trans cisternae in cells with larger Golgi complexes. However, almost all cisternae of the smaller Golgi complexes were TPPase-positive.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

[The classical healer as a castrator. The involvement of doctors in castration practices of the Graeco-Roman world].

The elimination of the testicles of boys and men, what we call castration, was frequently practised in Graeco-Roman antiquity. Probably it was sometimes done by laymen, but certainly also sometimes carried out by doctors. This article provides an overview of classical texts concerning castration practices in which doctors were involved, and explores the background of these specific castration practices. It appears that doctors not only cooperated in several practices that were (thought to be) beneficial for their patients, but also in the involuntary castration of healthly slave boys, mostly for the benefit of slave-owners, and hardly to the advantage of their patients.

Castration↗

[Female sex behavior of male rats castrated at birth and given female sex hormones: effects of hour of castration].

Female sexual behaviour of male Rats castrated at birth and treated with female sexual hormones: effects of hour of castration. Male Rats castrated at 0 hr and injected with aestradiol and progesterone as adults display a typical female sexual behaviour. The probability of them showing the lordotic reflex is significantly lower when castration is performed at 6 or 12 hrs. This result suggests that, during the 6 first postnatal hours, Rats testes could influence the adult sexual behaviour.

Animals↗

Effects of intrabulbar injections of 6-hydroxydopamine on ethyl acetate odor detection in castrate and non-castrate male rats.

The function of norepinephrine-containing neurons which project to the olfactory bulb is poorly understood. Although there has been suggestion that norepinephrine (NE) may modulate general olfactory sensitivity by attenuating the inhibitory feedback of granule cells upon mitral and tufted cells, behavioral indices of olfactory sensitivity have not been measured in animals with depletions of bulbar NE. The present experiment used computerized olfactometry and signal detection methodology to assess the odor detection performance of castrate and non-castrate male rats to a range of perithreshold concentrations of ethyl acetate following 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) depletion of bulbar NE. Such depletion had no significant influence on odor detection performance at any of the odorant concentrations examined in either castrate or non-castrate animals, as indexed by the non-parametric sensitivity measure SI. This observation implies that general olfactory sensitivity is unaltered by major depletion of intrabulbar NE, but does not preclude the possibility that NE modulates sensitivity to select odorants or odorant mixtures, or alters detection ability under atypical states of arousal.

Acetates↗

Castration and testosterone effects on endogenous and somatocrinin-induced growth hormone release in intact and castrated male pigs.

Growth hormone (GH) release is influenced mainly by two hypothalamic factors, growth hormone-releasing factor (GRF) and somatostatin and is modulated by other hormones such as gonadal steroids. The objective of this study was to determine if castration (CA) and exogenous testosterone (TE) affect endogenous and GRF-induced GH release. Purebred Yorkshire male pigs (n = 32) were assigned to one of the following treatments: T1:CA; T2:CA +/- TE; T3: intact (IN); T4: IN +/- TE, in a 2 x 2 factorial design. Piglets were castrated at 3 days of age. Testosterone propionate (1.0 mg/kg) in sesame oil (2 ml) or sesame oil alone was injected sc SID during a 10-day period before each sampling day at 9, 15 and 21 weeks of age. Jugular blood samples were collected for a 6-hr period preceding and following iv injection of hGRF (1-29)NH2 (10 micrograms/kg). These procedures were repeated at 9, 15 and 21 weeks of age. The overall mean GH levels and the area under the GH peaks before and after GRF stimulation were lower (P less than .05) in castrated animals than in intact animals. Testosterone treatment increased (P less than .05) circulating TE levels and increased the amplitude of the endogenous GH peaks but did not affect (P greater than .05) the GRF-induced GH release. Increasing age produced a marked reduction of the amplitude of the GH peaks, the area under the GH peaks, the baseline mean and the overall mean GH levels during the 6-hr period preceding GRF injection. The present data support the hypothesis that castration in pigs reduces circulating and GRF-induced GH release. Exogenous testosterone for 10 days did not stimulate endogenous or GRF-induced GH release with the exception of the amplitude of the endogenous GH peaks.

Animals↗

Incisionless in-office castration using a veterinary castration device (Burdizzo clamp).

Nonoperative ablation of the testicular artery has been described in animals using the Burdizzo clamp, but not in humans. We report a case of incisionless castration performed using local anesthesia, in a transsexual who wished to avoid the pain, expense, and scar associated with the open procedure. The Burdizzo clamp crushed the spermatic cord bilaterally, and the testis was allowed to atrophy. The soft-tissue damage was minimal, and the serum testosterone fell to castrate levels. This method has proved useful for castration in a transgender patient, but could also be used for castration in patients with advanced prostate cancer.

Adult↗

Ultrastructure and morphometry of the urethral glands in normal, castrated, and testosterone-treated castrated male mice.

Recent studies of the urethral glands in the male mouse and rat have suggested that they are testosterone-dependent glands that may be potential sites for secretory immunity in the male genital tract. In the present study we describe the ultrastructural features of these glands in normal mice and provide quantitative data on the sizes of the acinar cells and their organelles in sham-, oil-, and testosterone-treated castrated mice. Acinar cells in urethral glands from normal mice contain numerous secretory granules, prominent Golgi complexes, elongated mitochondria, and an abundance of rough endoplasmic reticulum (RER) with large and dilated cisternae, all of which are features characteristic of secretory cells. In some acinar cells the cisternae of the RER were filled with closely packed, unbranched, straight, tubular structures that were oriented parallel to one another, that radiated from aggregates of dense material, or that were randomly arranged. In other acinar cells the cisternae of the RER showed a network of branching and anastomosing vesicular-like structures whose limiting membranes were occasionally seen in continuity with the membranes of the RER. Secretory acini showed large, unbranched tubules in the acinar lumen. When cut at right angles the large tubules exhibited a distinct fuzzy outer coat with fine projections radiating outwards. The ultrastructure of the acinar cells and the presence of tubules in the lumen suggests that they are engaged in secretion of a tubular protein. Morphometric analysis of acinar cells in the urethral glands showed that the mean volumes of nuclei, cytoplasm, secretory granules, vacuoles, and mitochondria were significantly reduced in castrated mice in comparison to either normal or testosterone-treated castrated mice. This confirms earlier observations that the urethral glands are targets of testosterone.

Animals↗

Short-term and long-term histologic effects of castration and estrogen treatment on breast tissue of 14 male-to-female transsexuals in comparison with two chemically castrated men.

The histologic changes induced in the mammary gland of male-to-female transsexuals have not yet been reported in the literature. We studied the histologic changes induced by chemical and surgical castration and estrogen therapy in the breasts of 14 such patients, with particular reference to acinar and lobular formation. To objectify the influence of cross-sex treatment, the histologic findings were compared with those in two men treated hormonally for prostate cancer. The slight increase in the plasma estrogen-to-androgen ratio seen in idiopathic gynecomastia usually does not induce acinar and lobular formation in the male breast. In men treated with nonprogestative antiandrogens for prostate cancer, only moderate acinar and lobular formation occurs. Only in male-to-female transsexuals in whom progestative chemical castration is combined with feminizing estrogen therapy will full acinar and lobular formation occur with hormonally stimulated nuclei and pseudolactational changes. Hence, combined progestative antiandrogens and estrogens are necessary for genetically male breast tissue to mimic the natural histology of the female breast. Orchidectomy does not contribute to this. Apocrine metaplasia may occur in breasts of male-to-female transsexuals, but so far, only four cases of breast cancer in male-to-female transsexuals have been documented.

Adult↗

In vivo effect of human chorionic gonadotropin on the migration of inflammatory cells in intact or castrated male and female guinea-pigs: a quantitative histological study. II. Study of castrated males and females.

The effect of purified human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) on the migration of inflammatory cells into dacron mesh tissue containing live BCG and implanted under the skin of castrated male and female guinea-pigs was investigated. Cell counts have shown that no significant difference appeared between controls and castrated guinea-pigs given HCG. This work suggests that the inhibiting effect of HCG on the mobility of neutrophil granulocytes is closely related to the presence of both male and female gonads.

Animals↗