Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Using blood test for testicular tissue in dogs with sexual
By Walter, B et al.·Published in Domestic animal endocrinology·2022·Clinic of Small Animal Surgery and Reproduction at the Centre for Clinical Veterinary Medicine, Germany·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Serum anti-Müllerian hormone concentration as a diagnostic tool to identify testicular tissue in canine disorders of sexual development.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of 11 dogs with disorders of sexual development (DSD) were evaluated because they had ambiguous genitalia. The veterinarians used a blood test to measure anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH), which helps identify testicular tissue. The results showed that most of these dogs had significantly higher AMH levels than normal male and female dogs, indicating the presence of testicular tissue. This suggests that measuring AMH can be a helpful tool for diagnosing testicular issues in dogs with DSD.
People also search for: dog ambiguous genitalia · testicular tissue diagnosis in dogs · anti-Müllerian hormone test for dogs
Abstract
Disorders of sexual development (DSD) may have their origin in alterations of the chromosomal, gonadal or phenotypic sex. Affected animals are usually presented because of ambiguous external genitalia, seldom because of reproductive disorders. Anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) is secreted in the gonads with higher amounts in males than in females and can be used to identify gonadal tissue in sexually normally developed dogs. The aim of this study was to examine the diagnostic potential of serum AMH to identify testicular tissue in 11 dogs with DSD. The diagnostic procedures applied were: determination of the phenotypic sex (n = 11), genital ultrasound (n = 9), determination of the SRY gene (n = 11), karyogram (n = 6), gonadectomy (n = 11), pathohistology of the gonads (n = 10), serum AMH measurement (n = 11). 39 female dogs described in a previous study and 19 male dogs with a normal spermiogram served as controls for the AMH serum concentrations in sexually intact dogs. The 11 dogs with DSD were classified as 7 XY DSD and 4 XX DSD. Presumptive testes were obtained in 10 dogs and 1 dog had an ovotestis combined with a testis. Mean serum AMH values of the dogs with DSD were significantly higher (P < 0.001) than in male and female controls. The upper limit of the AMH test (≥ 23ng/ml) was reached in 6 dogs. High AMH concentrations have been described previously in cryptorchid dogs. 1 dog with a male phenotype and 2 with a female phenotype had AMH values within the range of the male controls, although all of them had cryptorchid testes. A Poodle, in which epididymis were identified but no definitive gonads, had an AMH concentration of the lower limit of the test (≤ 0.01 ng/ml), comparable to previously described castrated dogs. This study indicates that serum AMH levels are a useful diagnostic tool to identify testicular tissue in dogs with DSD and suggests the possible use of AMH to diagnose testicular dysgenesis.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34509739/