No abstract

Contents The aim of this study was to compare uterine two‐dimensional and Doppler ultrasonographic parameters in queens suffering from pyometra from those in early pregnancy. Secondly, the effect of the presence of clinical signs of systemic illness on these parameters was also described. Fourteen post‐oestrous queens, with uterine luminal content in the absence of embryos were included. According to their outcome (pyometra surgery or parturition), the queens were retrospectively assigned to one of the following groups: Pyometra (PYO; n = 7) or pregnant (PRG; n = 7). In all the queens, two‐dimensional and Doppler ultrasound examinations of the uterus were performed. The presence or absence of clinical signs of systemic illness was recorded. The widest cross‐sectional diameter (UD), uterine wall thickness (WT), uterine lumen contents (LC) and uterine artery resistance index (RI) were measured. Uterine horn diameter was higher in PYO group than in PRG group (p < 0.05), while WT (p > 0.1) and LC (p = 0.09) did not differ between groups. Values of RI for PYO and PRG groups were 0.61 ± 0.03 vs 0.53 ± 0.09 (p < 0.05), respectively. PYO cats suffering from clinical signs of systemic illness showed larger UD than those without signs (p < 0.01). It is concluded that two‐dimensional and Doppler ultrasound might be useful to distinguish queens suffering from pyometra from those in early pregnancy. Secondly, the clinical signs of systemic illness were associated with a larger UD.

The aim of this study was to describe the seminal, histomorphological and hormonal effects of the oral indenopyridine RTI-4587-073(l) on the cat testicle. Side effects were also recorded. Sixty testicles of adult cats that had been treated (d 0) with RTI-4587-073(l) 12.5 mg/kg PO and randomly hemi-

To test the hypothesis that in domestic cats, postnatal androgens induce sterility, the aims of this study were to describe the reproductive effects and the clinical safety of a postnatal administration of a long term release androgen in this species. Thirteen newborn littermate female kittens were randomly assigned to one of the following treatment groups within the first 24 hours of birth: testosterone enanthate 12.5 mg sc (TE; n = 8) or Placebo (PL; n = 5). The animals were subsequently assessed for fecal sexual hormones until puberty was attained and subsequently when matings occurred. After 21 days, ovulation and gestation were diagnosed. All queens were subsequently ovario-hysterectomized. Fecal testosterone concentrations differed between the treatment groups throughout the study period (P < 0.05) being greater during the first 2 postnatal weeks in those of the TE group (P < 0.01). Fecal estradiol was not affected by treatment (P > 0.1). While all the females were receptive during the pubertal estrus (P> 0.1), two TE (2/8) compared with all (5/5) females of the PL group had ovulations (P < 0.05). Only one (1/2) compared with three (3/5) of the queens of the TE and PL groups, respectively became pregnant. All kittens of the TE group had transient clitoral enlargement. Anovulatory TE-treated cats had no corpus luteum, and a significant diminution of the endometrial glands as well as of the height of the uterine epithelium. It is concluded that, in domestic cats, a single postnatal supraphysiological dose of testosterone caused a large proportion of queens to be anovulatory and there were also histological endometrial abnormalities that also occurred with this treatment that were accompanied by mild and transient side effects.