Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Testosterone and prostate markers in normal dogs and dogs
By Wolf, K et al.·Published in Reproduction in domestic animals = Zuchthygiene·2012·University of Veterinary Medicine, Germany·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Testicular steroids, prolactin, relaxin and prostate gland markers in peripheral blood and seminal plasma of normal dogs and dogs with prostatic hyperplasia.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of 77 healthy male dogs, including 19 Rhodesian Ridgebacks, underwent tests to check for prostate issues. The study found that older dogs and those with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) had larger prostate glands and higher levels of certain markers in their blood. While there were no significant differences in prolactin levels, slight increases were noted in older dogs and those with BPH, suggesting it might play a role in prostate problems. The Rhodesian Ridgebacks showed a tendency for larger prostate sizes, indicating a possible genetic predisposition to BPH.
People also search for: dog prostate problems · Rhodesian Ridgeback prostate health · benign prostatic hyperplasia in dogs · dog testicular hormones · older dog prostate enlargement
Abstract
Concentrations of 17β-oestradiol (E(2) ), testosterone (T), 5α-dihydrotestosterone, prolactin (PRL) and relaxin (RLN) were determined in peripheral blood serum or plasma and prostatic secretion of 77 physically healthy intact male dogs (19 Rhodesian Ridgebacks/RR, 58 dogs of other breeds, 1-9 years of age). Furthermore, the concentrations of acid phosphatase in prostatic secretion and canine prostate-specific esterase (CPSE) were measured in blood plasma. All dogs were submitted to a complete breeding soundness examination, including B-mode sonography. Prostatic volume was larger, and blood plasma levels of CPSE were higher in ageing dogs and in dogs with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) compared with young dogs and dogs with normal prostate. Furthermore, a higher E(2) /T ratio was found in dogs with BPH. Despite missing significant differences in PRL concentrations, the slight increases in PRL concentrations in the prostatic secretion observed both with increasing age and in dogs with BPH and the observed correlations between concentrations of PRL and testicular steroids may possibly indicate a role of PRL in the pathogenesis of canine BPH. Serum RLN concentrations were at similar level in all dogs. Regarding breed differences, an appreciably larger prostatic volume and higher concentration of CPSE were verified in RR than in other pure-bred dogs, confirming our suspicion of a premature enlargement of the prostate gland, which may result from a genetic disposition for BPH in this breed.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23279510/