Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Nitric oxide and sperm quality in dogs with prostate enlargement
By Domoslawska-Wyderska, A et al.·Published in Polish journal of veterinary sciences·2023·Department of Animal Reproduction with Clinic·View original on PubMed →
PetCaseFinder translated the abstract of this peer-reviewed paper into plain English so pet owners can read it. We do not publish original research — every detail traces back to the citation above. How we work →
Original publication title: Nitric oxide production by spermatozoa and sperm characteristics in dogs with benign prostatic hyperplasia.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of 40 intact dogs with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) showed lower sperm quality compared to healthy dogs. Specifically, the dogs with BPH had fewer motile sperm and poorer overall sperm movement, which can affect fertility. Interestingly, these dogs also produced more nitric oxide in their sperm, which may be linked to the reduced sperm quality. This suggests that BPH can negatively impact a dog's ability to reproduce. If you're concerned about your dog's fertility or prostate health, it's a good idea to discuss these findings with your veterinarian.
People also search for: dog fertility issues · benign prostatic hyperplasia in dogs · sperm quality in dogs · nitric oxide in dog sperm · dog prostate health symptoms
Abstract
The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) on nitric oxide (NO) production by spermatozoa and sperm parameters in dogs. The study was conducted on 40 intact dogs of various breeds. The dogs were assigned to two groups: BPH group (n=20) and non-affected group (n=20). The sperm concentration and motility parameters of spermatozoa were assessed using computer-assisted sperm analysis. For the assessment of sperm morphology monochromatic Diff-Quick stain was used. Plasma membrane integrity, mitochondrial membrane potential and the spermatozoa producing nitric oxide and with apoptotic-like changes were determined using fluorescent stain methods. The percentages of motile sperm, sperm with progressive motility and normal sperm were statistically significantly (p<0.05) lower in dogs with BPH than in non-affected dogs. The proportion of sperm in motility subcategory RAPID was statistically significantly (p<0.05) lower in dogs with BPH than in control dogs, whereas in the STATIC motility subcategory the proportion was significantly (p<0.05) higher in dogs with BPH. The percentage of spermatozoa producing NO was significantly (p<0.05) higher in dogs with BPH than in control dogs. In conclusion, the results of this study showed that BPH adversely affects semen quality, especially motility, in dogs. The decreased semen quality was associated with an increased proportion of spermatozoa generating NO. Further research is needed to clarify the mechanisms by which BPH affects semen quality.
Find similar cases for your pet
PetCaseFinder finds other peer-reviewed reports of pets with the same symptoms, plus a plain-English summary of what was tried across them.
Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38088305/