Suppression of testicular function and sexual behavior by vaccination against GnRH (Equity™) in the adult stallion

Janett, F.; Stump, R.; Burger, Dominik; Thun, R.

doi:10.1016/j.anireprosci.2008.11.011

Cited by 72 publications

(78 citation statements)

References 28 publications

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“…In accordance with others (Cronin et al, 2003;Rydhmer et al, 2006), we found that entire male pigs express more sexual behaviour than castrated pigs, regardless of castration method. Suppression of sexual behaviour by immunocastration has also been shown in stallions (Janett et al, 2009). According to the scan sampling in this study, no immunocastrated pigs performed sexual behaviour at any testing occasion after the second injection.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 88%

Immunocastration reduces aggressive and sexual behaviour in male pigs

Rydhmer

Lundström

Andersson

2010

Animal

102

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The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) vaccine, Improvac TM (Pfizer Ltd), in suppressing aggressive and sexual behaviour of male pigs. One hundred and thirty-six pigs were assigned to three treatments: entire male pigs (n 5 64), immunocastration against GnRH (n 5 48) and surgical castration (n 5 24). Surgical castration was performed before the age of 1 week. Vaccination comprised two injections: the first injection was given 8 to 11 weeks before slaughter and the second injection 4 weeks before slaughter. After the second injection, immunocastrated pigs showed less non-violent social and aggressive behaviours than entire male pigs of the same age. Mounting was reduced to the same low level as observed in surgically castrated pigs, and more immunocastrated pigs were without skin lesions compared with entire male pigs. Pigs that received the second injection only 1 week before the observation day did not differ significantly in behaviour from those that received the injection 3 weeks before the observation day. Thus, the behaviour seems to change soon after the second injection and these changes remain until slaughter.Keywords: entire male pigs, castration, immunocastration, behaviour ImplicationsThis study evaluated the effectiveness of a gonadotropinreleasing hormone (GnRH) vaccine, Improvac TM (Pfizer Ltd), in suppressing aggressive and sexual behaviour of entire male pigs. We found that immunocastrated pigs demonstrated much less aggressive and mounting behaviour after the second injection than entire males of the same age. However, timing of the second vaccination is crucial, as the full castration effect is not obtained until then.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 88%

Immunocastration reduces aggressive and sexual behaviour in male pigs

Rydhmer

Lundström

Andersson

2010

Animal

102

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“…As it has been shown in many investigations published during the last years [3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10]17,20,[29][30][31][32][33][34] vaccination against GnRF was able to induce an increase in anti-GnRF antibody titer.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The suppression of reproductive function using an anti-GnRF vaccine has been demonstrated in numerous studies in cattle [3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13], sheep [10,[14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21], pig [22][23][24][25][26][27][28], horse [29][30][31][32][33][34] and in wild animals [35][36][37][38][39].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Vaccination against gonadotropin-releasing factor (GnRF) with Bopriva significantly decreases testicular development, serum testosterone levels and physical activity in pubertal bulls

Janett

Gerig

Tschuor³

et al. 2012

Theriogenology

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The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of vaccination against gonadotropin-releasing factor (GnRF) on testicular development, testosterone secretion, and physical activity in pubertal bulls. The experiment was performed using 44 bulls aged between 6 and 7 mo. Twenty-three animals were vaccinated twice 4 wk apart with 1 mL of Bopriva (Pfizer, Animal Health, Parkville, Australia) and 21 bulls served as matched controls. Serum GnRF antibody titer and testosterone concentration as well as body weight and scrotal circumference were determined in all bulls for 24 wk from the first vaccination. In addition, physical activity was analyzed in 11 vaccinated and in 10 control animals using the ALPRO DeLaval activity meter system (DeLaval AG, Sursee, Switzerland). The results show that vaccination significantly (P < 0.05) influenced all parameters evaluated except body weight. Antibody titers to GnRF began to rise 2 wk after the first vaccination and reached peak values 2 wk after the second injection. Significant group differences in anti-GnRF titer were present for 22 wk following the first vaccination. Testosterone concentrations were significantly lower between weeks 6 to 24 after first vaccination in bulls with Bopriva compared with control animals. In vaccinated bulls testicular development was impaired after the second injection and scrotal circumference was significantly smaller between weeks 8 to 24 after first vaccination. Physical activity of vaccinated bulls was reduced after the booster injection with significant group differences for a continuous period of 106 days. In conclusion, vaccination against GnRF with Bopriva in pubertal bulls decreased testosterone levels in peripheral blood, testicular development, and physical activity but did not affect weight gain. AbstractThe aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of vaccination against gonadotropinreleasing factor (GnRF) on testicular development, testosterone secretion and physical activity in pubertal bulls. The experiment was performed using 44 bulls aged between 6 and 7 months. Twenty-three animals were vaccinated twice 4 weeks apart with 1 mL of Bopriva ® (Pfizer Animal Health, Australia) and 21 bulls served as matched controls. Serum GnRF antibody titer and testosterone concentration as well as body weight and scrotal circumference were determined in all bulls for 24 weeks from the first vaccination. In addition, physical activity was analyzed in 11 vaccinated and in 10 control animals using the ALPRO  DeLaval activity meter system (DeLaval AG, Sursee, Switzerland). The results show that vaccination significantly (P < 0.05) influenced all parameters evaluated except body weight. Antibody 2 titers to GnRF began to rise 2 weeks after the first vaccination and reached peak values 2 weeks after the second injection. Significant group differences in anti-GnRF titer were present for 22 weeks following the first vaccination. Testosterone concentrations were significantly lower between weeks 6 to 24 after first vaccination in bulls w...

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“…The use of gonadotrophin releasing hormone (GnRH) vaccines to down-regulate the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis could be a useful way to control musth and aggressive behaviour. Immunisation with GnRH has been used successfully in many domestic as well as some non-domestic species 9,23,34,51 to control reproduction and androgen associated behaviour. It is reversible 23,28,29,34 and no adverse side effects have been recorded 23,26,27 .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Immunisation with GnRH has been used successfully in many domestic as well as some non-domestic species 9,23,34,51 to control reproduction and androgen associated behaviour. It is reversible 23,28,29,34 and no adverse side effects have been recorded 23,26,27 . The aims of this study were to investigate a possible relationship between concentrations of faecal androgen and glucocorticoid metabolites and aggressive behaviour and to test a GnRH vaccine as a means of controlling aggressive behaviour and musth in African elephant bulls.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Vaccination against GnRH may suppress aggressive behaviour and musth in African elephant (Loxodonta africana) bulls - a pilot study

Nys¹,

Bertschinger²,

Turkstra

et al. 2010

J. S. Afr. Vet. Assoc.

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Aggressive behaviour and musth are constant problems in captive and sometimes in free-ranging African elephant bulls. Aggressive bulls are difficult and musth bulls almost impossible to manage without severely restricting their movement either by leg-chaining or using tranquillisers. This study investigated the relationship between faecal androgen metabolites (FAM) and faecal cortisol metabolites (FCM) concentrations and aggressive behaviour and tested a GnRH vaccine as a means of down-regulating aggressive behaviour and musth in 1 free-ranging and 5 captive elephant bulls. The bulls were non-aggressive (n = 3), aggressive (n = 2) or in musth (n = 1) at the onset of the study. The bulls were injected with a GnRH vaccine-adjuvant combination 3 or 4 times at 3- to 7-week intervals. Behaviour, FAM and FCM concentrations were measured during every week prior to vaccination until 4 months after the last vaccination. FAM concentrations were positively correlated with aggressive behaviour before the 1st vaccination. Androgen production, as reflected by FAM concentrations, was down-regulated in 3 of the 6 immunised bulls. At least 2 bulls and possibly a 3rd showed behavioural improvement following GnRH vaccination and in all 3 temporal gland secretion ceased. No further aggressive behaviour was observed until the end of the study in any of the bulls. The results of this 1st GnRH immunisation study suggest that it could be a useful method to control aggressive behaviour and musth in African elephant bulls

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Suppression of testicular function and sexual behavior by vaccination against GnRH (Equity™) in the adult stallion

Cited by 72 publications

References 28 publications

Immunocastration reduces aggressive and sexual behaviour in male pigs

Immunocastration reduces aggressive and sexual behaviour in male pigs

Vaccination against gonadotropin-releasing factor (GnRF) with Bopriva significantly decreases testicular development, serum testosterone levels and physical activity in pubertal bulls

Vaccination against GnRH may suppress aggressive behaviour and musth in African elephant (Loxodonta africana) bulls - a pilot study

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