• Development and Reproduction
• /
• v.21 no.3
• /
• pp.307-315
• /
• 2017

Surgical castration (also known as orchidectomy, ORX) has been frequently performed to avoid uncontrolled breeding. However, it has some serious disadvantages. Several laboratories have developed chemical castration methods, using bilateral intratesticular injection (BITI) of simple chemical solutions. The present study was undertaken to compare the effects of ORX and of hypertonic saline BITI on the androgen-sensitive tissues such as pituitary and hypothalamus. Serum testosterone (T) levels of ORX animals and hypertonic saline BITI animals (SAL) after 4 weeks of the manipulations exhibited significantly drops as compared with the levels of intact animals ( $Intact:ORX:SAL=7.74{\pm}1.31:1.34{\pm}0.19:1.28{\pm}0.18ng/ml$, p<0.001). Both ORX and BITI method induced similar stimulatory effects on the pituitary gonadotropin subunits and hypothalamic KiSS-1 gene expressions. In contrast, the effects of ORX and hypertonic saline BITI on hypothalamic GnRH gene expression were different from these gene expressions, shown an inverse relationship between the two groups ($Intact:ORX:SAL=1:0.45{\pm}0.06:1:2.07{\pm}0.41:1.51{\pm}0.37AU$; ORX, p<0.001; SAL, p<0.05). In conclusion, we provided evidence that hypertonic saline BITI method has equivalent efficacy of T depletion to surgical castration in rats. The present study suggests the hypertonic saline BITI could be a promising substitute to conventional surgical castration.

• Development and Reproduction
• /
• v.17 no.4
• /
• pp.435-440
• /
• 2013

Previous studies, including our own, have demonstrated that the intratesticular injection of hypertonic saline (20%) decreased serum testosterone level which was similar to the surgical castration in the rat, showing the state of chemical castration. In the present study, we further verify the efficacy of this less invasive method as an alternative of surgical orchidectomy in the andrological field. Sterilized 20% saline was directly injected into the adult male rats (750 ${\mu}l$ per testis). The tested rats were divided into 3 groups including intact group (intact), orchidectomy group (ORX) and saline injection group (SAL) after bilateral orchidectomy was performed at the same day of injection. All rats were sacrificed at 4 weeks after injection. The reproductive organs (testes, epididymis, seminal vesicles and prostates) were collected and used for DNA and protein pattern analyses. Also, patho-histological studies on the testes were performed. In contrast to the intact group, similar DNA damages of testis and seminal vesicle were appeared in ORX group and SAL group. The DNA degradations seemed to be the results of necrosis rather than apoptosis. In the protein pattern analysis, all the testing tissues exerted similar patterns in the ORX group and the SAL group compared to the those of intact group. Patho-histological studies revealed that severe degenerative changes in testicular seminiferous tubules and massive infiltration of immune cells in SAL group. The present study confirmed that direct injection of hypertonic saline into the testis caused the equivalent biochemical changes in the accessory sex organs as shown in the orchidectomized animals. These results suggest that hypertonic saline injection model could be a useful castration model which can substitute for surgical castration when its safety is secured through further study in the future.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
• /
• v.57 no.11
• /
• pp.39.1-39.5
• /
• 2015

The effects of castration time on growth and carcass traits of elk bulls were investigated. Twelve bulls at 5 years old were raised and fed on concentrate with ad libitum hay. All animals were allocated randomly to each of four treatment groups (3 heads/group). Groups of each treatment were castrated surgically in March, April or June and managed together with non-castration (entire) treatment. All elk bulls in the trial were slaughtered at same time. Growth parameters, carcass yield and composition were recorded. The total gain and average daily gain was higher when castrated in April (p < 0.05). The entire elk produced heaviest and highest in saddle and brisket portions (p < 0.05). It is apparent that the castrate animals carried more total fat weight and percentages than the entire males (p < 0.05). It was found that loin muscles from non-castrated elk, in comparison with those from castrated one, had higher content of moisture and lower content of fat (p < 0.05). In this study, growth parameters, carcass yields and chemical composition were greatly affected by castration time.

• Animal Bioscience
• /
• v.35 no.8
• /
• pp.1258-1269
• /
• 2022

Objective: For improving meat quality especially tenderness, male cattle are usually castrated to removes both the testicles. This study was conducted to evaluate the effect castration method (half- and complete-castration) on meat yield and quality characteristics of Hanwoo male cattle. Methods: Thirty-two similar age (5.9 months) Hanwoo male calves were divided into: half-castration (HC) and complete-castration (CC) groups (n = 16 per group). At 7 months of age, all the animals were castrated in which the HC calves had only one testicle surgically removed while, the CC calves had both testicles surgically removed. The castrated animals were reared under identical conditions until 25 months of age. After slaughter, the carcasses were evaluated for carcass traits and meat yield of primal cuts. For examination of the castration effect on meat quality, L. lumborum and semimembranosus muscles were used. The meat samples were analyzed for chemical composition, color, pH, shear force and water holding capacity, fatty acids, metabolites and volatile aroma compounds. Results: The HC group showed higher meat yields of all primal cuts (p<0.05). As a result, the total meat yield was higher by approximately 44 kg in the HC group (303.32 kg, corresponding to 67.88%) compared to the CC group (259.30 kg, corresponding to 62.11%) (p<0.05). In terms of meat quality, the HC resulted in two times greater fat content in both muscles examined compared to intact males. More importantly, the shear force values did not differ between HC and CC groups for L. lumborum muscles (p>0.05). The meat from HC animals exhibited higher amount of free amino acids associated with sweetness (p<0.05). Furthermore, the castration method only exhibited a negligible effect on metabolites and volatile aroma compounds in the cooked meat. Conclusion: Half-castration emerged as an alternative practice to be used for increasing the yield and tenderness of male cattle meat.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
• /
• v.27 no.1
• /
• pp.45-51
• /
• 2003

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of castration and ovariectomy on growth performance and plasma hormone concentration in pigs. A total of 48 pigs of 35 days of age were used. The results obtained in the present study are summarized as follows: 1. No significant difference was found in average daily gain between ovariectomy group (898.6g) and control gilt group (862.7g), and between castration group (926.0g) and control boar group (945.5g), respectively. Average daily gain of control boar group, however, was significantly higher than that of control gilt group (p<0.05). There was no significant difference in feed/gain between ovariectomy and control gilt group and between castration and control boar group, respectively. Backfat thickness was significantly (p<0.05) higher in ovariectomy or castration group than in control gilt or boar group, respectively. 2. Plasma concentration of IGF-I was significantly (p<0.05) increased during the period of 5 weeks of age (45.1 $\pm$0.72 ng/ml) to 15 weeks of age (356.3$\pm$3.05 ng/ml), and maintained constantly afterwards in control gilt group, as was in control boar group. That of ICF-I tended to be lower in ovariectomy or castration group than in control gilt or boar group, respectively. Regarding steroid hormones of estradiol-17$\beta$, progesterone, and testosterone, the concentration was extremely low at 5 weeks of age, however, increased from 11 weeks to 23 weeks of age in control gilt or boar group, while it was nearly under detection limit in ovariectomy or castration group. 3. Chemical compositions of pork loins were not affected by ovariectomy or castration, except that crude ash content was significantly (p<0.05) higher in castration group than in control boar group. These results indicated that ovariectomy or castration had no effects on growth performance and feed utilization. However, the concentration of sex steroid hormones was under detection limit in ovariectomy and castration group. Further studies, however, are needed to develope the techniques which minimize the stress related with castration or ovariectomy for the production of high quality pork.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.29 no.5
• /
• pp.709-715
• /
• 2016

The objective of the research was to determine the chemical composition as well as the physicochemical properties of the longissimus muscle from Korean entire and castrate elk. Twelve elk stags were raised and fed on concentrate with ad libitum hay. All animals were equally divided into castrated and non-castrated (entire) males, and slaughtered at 5 year of age. It was found that entire elk, in comparison with castrate elk, had higher content of moisture and lower content of fat (p<0.05). Compared with entire males, the castrates had lower pH and shear force values (p<0.05). However, castrates had higher $L^*$, $a^*$, and $b^*$ values compared with entires (p<0.05). An analysis of the fatty acid profile revealed that the muscles of entire and castrate elk had the most abundant concentrations of the following fatty acids: palmitic acid (C16:0) of the saturated fatty acid, and oleic acid (C18:1n-9) of the unsaturated fatty acid. The entire elk contains higher proportions of linoleic acid (C18:3n6), eicosenoic acid (C20:1n9), and arachidonic acid (C20:4n6) (p<0.05). Cholesterol content in elk was not affected by castration. The predominant free amino acid was glutamic acid related to umami taste. It is apparent that the castrate animals carried higher content of histidine, isoleucine, and leucine than those of the entire group (p<0.05). In this study, it was concluded that venison quality of elk is affected by castration and these results can provide fundamental information for venison production.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
• /
• v.57 no.5
• /
• pp.330-336
• /
• 2013

"The Act on Medication Treatment of Sexual Impulse of Sex Offenders" known as chemical castration has been effective since July 2011 in Korea. According to the law, monitoring of male sex hormone in urine is enforced to request National Forensic Service more than once a month after injection of medicine designed to reduce sex impulse. We established a rapid and sensitive method for the monitoring of testosterone (T) and epitestosterone (E) in human urine by liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Three mL of urine was pretreated by solid-phase extraction for purification and performed enzymatic hydrolysis. The pretreated samples were extracted twice with 2 ml of ethyl acetate and n-hexane (2 : 3). The separation was applied on Thermo Hypersil GOLD C18 column ($1.9{\mu}m$, $100{\times}2.1mm$). A gradient elution of methanol and water of 0.1% formic acid were used as mobile phase and the retention time was less than 10 min. LC-MS/MS system coupled with an electrospray ionization source was performed in multiple reaction monitoring mode. The transitions of the analytes executed as following: m/z $289{\rightarrow}97$, 109 for T and E, m/z $292{\rightarrow}109$ for $T-d_3$ and $E-d_3$ as internal standards. The validation results of the method were satisfactory. The limits of detection were 0.05 ng/ml and the limits of quantification were 0.1 ng/ml. This method was successfully applied to real human urine sample. The developed method will be useful for monitoring T/E ratio in urine of sex offenders.

• Korean Journal of Oriental Medicine
• /
• v.16 no.2
• /
• pp.131-141
• /
• 2010

Objective : Benign prostatic hyperplasia(BPH) is one of the most common diseased among elderly men. BPH can be treated with alpha-1 adrenergic blocker or $5{\alpha}$-reductase inhibitor(Finasteride) that reduces serum dihydrotestosterone(DHT). Phellodendri Cortex Ex has been broad studied on its chemical components, pharmacological activity, and clinical effects on anti-inflammation, anti-allergy, anti-tumor, immunity, antibacteria and other bioactivities. In this study, we investigated the therapeutic effects and action mechanism of Phellodendri Cortex Ex with a BPH induced by castration and testosterone treatment. Methods : Sprague-Dawley rats were treated with testosterone after castration for induction of experimental benign prostatic hyperplasia, which is similar to human benign prostatic hyperplasia in histopathological profiles. Phellodendri Cortex as an experimental specimen, and Finasteride as a positive control, were administered orally. The prostates were evaluated by histopathological changes, and the expression of $5{\alpha}$-reductase genes. Results : While prostates of control rats revealed severe acinar gland atrophy and stromal proliferation, the rats treated with Phellodendri Cortex Ex showed a diminished range of the tissue damage. In the reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR) of $5{\alpha}$-reductase genes, Phellodendri Cortex inhibited the expression of $5{\alpha}$-reductase genes. Conclusions : These findings suggest that Phellodendri Cortex Ex may protect the glandular epithelial cells and also inhibit stromal proliferation in association with the suppression of $5{\alpha}$-reductase. From these results, we suggest that Phellodendri Cortex Ex could be a useful agent for treating the benign prostatic hyperplasia.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
• /
• v.33 no.1
• /
• pp.119-124
• /
• 2013

This study was conducted to investigate meat quality and sensory characteristics between castrated and non-castrated dairy goats. Dairy goat of Saanen breeds was slaughtered at an age of 6 mon. Then, characteristics of dairy goat meat were analyzed to chemical compositions, collagen content, pH, meat color, cooking loss, water-holding capacity, shear force, protein solubility, and myofibrillar protein fractions by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). Also, odor from dairy goat meats was analyzed by sensory evaluation and volatile substances by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). As a result, the chemical compositions and physicochemical characteristics were not significantly different between castrated and non-castrated dairy goats meat. Also, there is no difference protein solubility (sarcoplasmic, myofibrillar and total protein) and protein fraction by SDS-PAGE. Sensory evaluation results in odour scores are highly (p<0.05) non-castration dairy goat meat better than castration. As a result, overall palatability was higher (p<0.05) in castrated goat meat when compared with non-castrated one. The indole and octadecanoic acid by GC-MS based on sensory evaluation results were only detected in non-castrated dairy goat meat. Therefore, distribution for goat meats castrated compared to non-castrated dairy goat meat is expected to be able to get a good response to the Korean consumer.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
• /
• v.46 no.2
• /
• pp.165-172
• /
• 2004

This study was conducted to investigate changes in physico-chemical characteristics of Hanwoo carcass according to different castration and slaughtering ages. Total 75 Hanwoo calves(average 4 months old) were randomly assigned to Control(bulIs). Treatment I. Il , III. or IV(castrated on 4. 9. 12. and 16 months of age, respectively) and slaughtered at 7. 9. 12, 16, and 28 months of age. Moisture contents in M. Longissimus dorsi of both Hanwoo bulls and steers were decreased as the slaughtering age increased. Moisture contents in all steer groups were significantly(P <0.05) lower(average 68.63%) than that in bulls(72.18%) at 28 months of age. Crude fat contents tended to increase as the slaughtering age increased. Crude fat contents in Treatment III(castrated at 12 months of age) at 28 months of age were 10.24% which was the highest among all steer groups. Crude protein contents in M. Longissimus dorsi of Hanwoo bulls were around 23% regardless of slaughtering age. Water holding capacity(WHC) of both bulls and steers tended to increase as the animals aged. Steers showed rapid increase in WHC after 16 months of age and showed higher(78.39%)) WHC than bulls(70.00%) at 28 months of age. Palmitic acid(CI8: 0) contents in Hanwoo bulls were increased as the slaughtering age increased(20.92 \longrightarrow 24.22%) whereas stearic acid(CI8: 0) contents were decreased(I8.l5 \longrightarrow11.32%). Oleic acid(CI8: I). a major unsaturated fatty acid. significantly(P <0.05) increased(25.59 \longrightarrow 37.90%) when slaughtering age of Hanwoo increased. Changes in fatty acid composition in Hanwoo steers were similar to those in bulls except oleic acid contents were higher and stearic acid contents were lower than bulls at 28 months of age.