Control of Cat Reproduction

Abstract

The objectives of the current studies were the investigation of several methods of contraception in male cats (Either surgical or chemical) and in female cats (Using recent generations of synthetic progestins). Male cats were subjected to either surgical neutering; Group1 (n=10) cats were subjected to bilateral orchidectomy, Group2 (n=6) were subjected to bilateral vasoligation of testicular blood supply, or chemical sterilization using intratesticular injection of either 0.5 ml or 1ml glycerol ( for Group3 n= 7 cats and Group4 n=7 cats). Concerning female cats, two studies with two different contraceptive drugs were used, firstly, Group1 (n=6); received 0.075 mg desogestrel per os daily for 21 days. Group 2 (n=6); received 0.0375 mg desogestrel per os daily for 21 day and group 3 (n=6) ; was reserved as control. In the other study, Group 1 (n=6); received 30 µg ethinylestradiol /3 mg drospirenone per os for 21 days, Group 2 (n=6); received 15 µg ethinylestradiol /1.5 mg drospirenone per os daily for 21 days and Group 3 (n=6); was reserved as control. Blood samples were withdrawn from jugular vein for estimation of serum testosterone levels in male cats and serum estrogen and progesterone in female cats. Average testicular length, epididymal sperm count and histopathological findings were recorded for male cats. Ultrasonographic examination was performed on all females before beginning the study then weekly throughout the study. The studies showed that serum testosterone level was significantly (P˂0.01) decreased after vasoligation and intratesticular injection of 0.1 ml of glycerol (1.71 ± 0.34 ng/mL and 1.32 ± 0.21 ng/mL, respectively). The epididymal samples collected from groups (2 and 4) showed azoospermia. Results of female studies showed that serum estrogen level was significantly (P˂0.05) decreased to (8.25 ± 0.69 pg/mL) after desogestrel treatment and no obvious reproductive disorders were recorded throughout conducting our study. In contrast, drospirenone and ethinyl estradiol study showed that serum estrogen level increased not decreased and there were some reproductive