No abstract

Male (n = 6/group) and female (n = 6/group) kittens were gonadectomized at 7 weeks (prepuberally) or 7 months of age (postpuberally), or left intact. Lateral radiographic projections of the right forelimb were made from 4 months of age until the distal radial physis was closed, or 24 months of age. In males, distal radial physeal closure was delayed in both groups of gonadectomized animals, compared to intact males (p < 0.01). In females, proximal radial physeal closure was significantly delayed in prepuberally gonadectomized animals (p = 0.02), and distal radial physeal closure was significantly delayed in both groups of gonadectomized animals, compared to intact animals (p < 0.01). Final radial length (females p < 0.01, males p = 0.01), and age and radial length at time of the growth plateau (p < 0.01) were significantly increased in all gonadectomized animals. Age at gonadectomy had no effect on age and radial length at time of the growth plateau. No puberal growth spurt was observed in any of the cats.

Serum and seminal plasma concentrations or activities of acid phosphatase (AP), prostate specific antigen (PSA), and canine prostate specific esterase (CPSE) were measured in normal dogs, dogs with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), dogs with bacterial prostatitis, and dogs with prostatic carcinoma t o determine if these assays would be of value in differentiating dogs with prostatic carcinoma from normal dogs, and dogs with other prostatic disorders. In addition, tissue sections of prostatic adenocarcinomas were stained with antiprostatic AP, anti-CPSE, and anti-PSA antibodies t o determine if these would be suitable immunohistochemical markers of prostatic carcinoma. Prostate-specific antigen was not detected in canine serum or seminal plasma. Serum and seminal AP activities did not differ significantly between normal dogs and those with prostatic diseases, or among dogs with different prostatic disorders. Serum CPSE activities were significantly higher in dogs with BPH than in normal dogs. Mean serum enign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), prostatic carci-B noma, and bacterial prostatitis can be difficult to differentiate in dogs because of similarities in clinical presentation, and laboratory and radiographic findings. A definitive diagnosis often requires prostatic biopsy, which is complicated by the relative inaccessibility of the prostate gland. In patients with prostatic carcinoma, inability to rapidly confirm the diagnosis may contribute to the poor prognosis typically associated with thisIn men with prostatic carcinoma, the use of serum markers such as acid phosphatase (AP) and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) has facilitated diagnosis, determination of the extent of disease, evaluation of therapeutic response, and detection of relapse after the rap^.^.^ Prostate-specific antigen is a proteolytic glycoprotein found in normal, hyperplastic, and malignant human prostatic tissue. Increases in serum PSA concentrations have been reported in human patients with BPH, prostatitis, and prostatic carcinomx8 In human patients with prostatic carcinoma, PSA concentrations correlate with the stage ofdisease, and serum activities of PSA are considered more sensitive than serum acid phosphatase activities for monitoring the disease.6 Acid phosphatase and PSA have been identified in normal, neoplastic, and hyperplastic canine prostatic epithelial cells. ' Canine prostate specific esterase (CPSE), the major secretory product of the canine prostate gland, is similar to human PSA and, like PSA, is a serine protease. Although the proteins are closely related, they are clearly distinct from one another." Both CPSE and PSA are under hormonal regulation, and decreases in serum testosterone activities result in reduction in the serum and seminal plasma concentrations or activities.' ' 3 ' ' Canine prostate specific esterase has been identified in normal canine prostatic cells, in canine seminal fluid,I2-I5 and in hyperplastic and neoplastic prostatic tissue.' The esterase is predominantly localized to the apical portions of canin...

The onset of sexual maturity and changes in weight and serum testosterone and cortisol concentrations were studied in male Weddell seals during October–December, 1986, at a breeding colony in McMurdo Sound, Antarctica. Ages were estimated from length or known from tagging history. Underwater copulatory and territorial activities were monitored by colored grease transfer and radiotelemetry, respectively. Hormone concentrations were measured by radioimmunoassay. Of 37 male seals visiting the colony, 22 were resident for ~5 weeks. About one-third of the male residents defended territories into estrus and were called territorial (T). Another one-third appeared unsuccessful at defending a territory and were called transitional (TN). The remaining one-third were nonterritorial (N). Males were closely matched in size (coefficient of variation ≤ 15% for length, girth, and weight). Most N males were 5–7 years old. T males (≥ 7 years old), being older (P < 0.05) than N males, attained 19 of 20 observed copulations. T males were heavier initially (P < 0.10) than TN or N males, and they lost more weight during the breeding season (P = 0.08, 3.2 vs. 2.1 kg/day) than N males. In all males, serum testosterone and cortisol concentrations declined, approaching nadir as estrus and the breeding season ended. Mean (±SE) daily concentrations ranged from 6.8 ± 2.4 ng/mL to nondetectable concentrations for testosterone and from 104.8 ± 13.2 to 54.7 ± 4.5 μg/dL for cortisol. Concentrations of both hormones were higher in T males than in N males. Hormone profiles of TN males initially resembled those of T males, but at estrus resembled those of N males. Coincident with a change in competitive behavior was a transient rise in cortisol accompanied by a drop in testosterone.

Reproductive performance in a feline research colony of 14 queens is reported. Average estrous length in 38 cycles was 5.8 +/- 3.3 days, with a range of two to 19 days. Estrous length in 23 bred cycles was not shorter (p greater than 0.05) than in 15 nonbred cycles, suggesting that induction of ovulation does not decrease estrous length. Pregnancy rate in 23 bred cycles was 73.9%. Gestation length averaged 66.9 +/- 2.9 days with a range of 62 to 71 days (n = 15). Average parturition length was 16.1 +/- 14.3 hours (n = 7), with a range of four to 42 hours. Litter size ranged from one to five kittens, with an average of 3.7 kittens per litter (n = 15). Percent mortality by eight weeks of age was 29.1%, with 4.7% stillbirths.