CRYPTORCHIDISM in DOG (Small, Diminutive). the Terms Monorchidism
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Ciência Animal 2000, 10(1):61-70 CRYPTORCHIDISM IN DOG (Criptorquidismo no cão) Marcos Renato Franzosi MATTOS*, Lucilene SIMÕES-MATTOS & Sheyla Farhayldes Souza DOMINGUES College of Veterinary Science, University of Ceará, Fortaleza, CE, Brazil ABSTRACT The present review aims to discuss cryptorchidism in dogs, accentuating the importance, incidence, pathogenesis, pathology, macroscopic and microscopic appearance of cryptorchid testicles, complications and disturbances, diagnosis, treatments and control. The zootechnical and ethical aspects related to this disturbance are also discussed. KEY WORDS: cryptorchidism, dog, pathology, diagnosis, control, treatment RESUMO A presente revisão têm por objetivo dissertar sobre o criptorquidismo em cães, dando ênfase a importância, incidência, patogenia, patologia, aparência macroscópica e microscópica de testículos criptorquídicos, complicações e distúrbios, diagnóstico, tratamentos e controle. Os aspectos zootécnicos e éticos relacionados a este distúrbio, são discutidos. PALAVRAS-CHAVE: criptorquidismo, cão, patologia, diagnóstico, controle, tratamento INTRODUCTION (from greek mónos = only, alone) and anorchidism (from greek anorchos = without Cryptorchidism is of major importance testis) are more correctly applied for the among the pathologies that affect reproduction congenital absence of one (monorchidism) or both in dogs, as well as other animal species. It is (anorchidism) testis in the body. These are characterized by the failure in the descent of one extremely rare anomalies among domestic (unilateral) or both (bilateral) testis from the mammals (NASCIMENTO & SANTOS, 1997). abdominal cavity to the scrotum (BURKE, 1986; Unfortunately, the term “monorchidism” is often MICKELSEN & MEMON, 1995). Besides the used erroneously, with reference to the unilateral failure in the descent of the testis, BURKE cryptorchidism (BURKE, 1986, COX, 1986, (1986) suggests that cryptorchidism may also be MIALOT, 1988, DAELS et al., 1991; NELSON the failure to maintain the normal position of the & COUTO, 1994; HAFEZ, 1995; SORRIBAS, testis in the scrotum. For PINTO (1962) and 1995; NASCIMENTO & SANTOS, 1997). FERREIRA (1986), the term “cryptorchidism” ALLEN (1995) reported a single case of is a combination of three Greek words, “kriptós” anorchidism in dogs. (hidden, occult), “orchis” (testicle) and “idion” In several species, when the testicle is (small, diminutive). The terms monorchidism not in its normal position in the scrotum, it can * Autor para correspondência e-mail: [email protected] 61 be present in different locations, including the also report that cryptorchidism may either happen abdominal cavity, inguinal canal and in normal males or intersex animals (male subcutaneous tissue. When the testis is located pseudohermaphrodites). BROWN et al. (1976) in the subcutaneous position, it can be found in describe the occurrence of male the perineal and inguinal regions, in the medial pseudohermaphrodites associated with the part of the posterior members, around or inserted unilateral or bilateral cryptorchidism and testicular in the prepuce. Many authors differentiate neoplasia (Sertoli cells) in three miniature between abdominal and inguinal positions of Schnauzers. These animals presented clinical subcutaneous location, considering as signs of hyperestrogenism, and a cystic cryptorchidism only the former two and naming endometrial hyperplasia. In cats, the Persian the subcutaneous localization as testicular ectopy breed is mentioned with a larger prevalence of (MIALOT, 1988; NIEMAND & SUTER, 1992; cryptorchidism (NELSON & COUTO, 1994). NASCIMENTO & SANTOS, 1997). As the According to NASCIMENTO & etiology, pathogenesis, symptoms, pathology and SANTOS (1997), unilateral cryptorchidism is treatment are similar for all locations, this review more frequent than bilateral. According to will not enter that description and will consider MIALOT (1988), the right testicle seems to be testicular ectopy and cryptorchidism as more frequently affected. He supposes that is synonymous. because embryologically, there is a longer migration (since they are originally located at the Incidence caudal region of the kidneys, and the right kidney According to HAFEZ (1995), is more cranial than the left one). Similarly, cryptorchidism incidence is greater in swine and CHRISTIANSEN (1986) suggests that the lack equines than in other domestic animals. However, of descent, in dogs, is found twice as often on according NASCIMENTO & SANTOS (1997), the right side as on the left (with a relationship of while the most affected species are the equine 2.3:1, for testis retained in the inguinal region, and canine, it may occur less frequently in other and 2:1 for abdominal retention). HAFEZ (1995) species. MIALOT (1988) reports that the canine reports that, in several other animal species, the species has the highest frequency of this left unilateral cryptorchidism is more frequent. pathology (10% of adult animals) and that the According to NELSON & COUTO (1994) there tendency is increasing. MICKELSEN & is no difference between the prevalence of left MEMON (1995) and ACLAND (1998) suggest or right cryptorchids in dogs and cats. that cryptorchidism is the most common disorder of the sexual development in dogs, occurring in Embryology and fetal development 13% of the males. NELSON & COUTO (1994) In most mammals, the testis originate describe a smaller prevalence in dogs and cats from the caudal portion of the kidneys, in the that is about 1% to 2%. COX (1986) reports abdominal cavity, pass across the inguinal canal, frequencies from 0.8% to 10.9%. There is breed and descend to the scrotum during the fetal period predisposition in clinical practice as in the (SETCHELL, 1978, apud KAWAKAMI, et al. literature. COX (1986) mentions those breeds 1993). The descent of the testis is induced by that are most predisposed to cryptorchidism are the contraction of a gelatinous cord, the the Yorkshire terrier, Poodle, the smaller variants gubernaculum testis (Fig. 1), which extends from being most affected (toy > miniature > standard). the caudal pole of the testis to the genital tubercle The author also mentions that the Boxer and the (COX, 1986). The exact function of the Beagle breeds are of relative risk. NELSON & gubernaculum in testicular descent is not clearly COUTO (1994) include the breeds Chihuahua, elucidated. With the degeneration of the German Spitz, miniature Schnauzer, Pekinese, mesonephros (transitory kidney), the Maltese, Shetland Shepherd and Cairn terrier gubernaculum is attached in the caudal portion among the most affected dogs. These authors the testis, extends through the inguinal canal and 62 The normal period for the descent of the testis to the scrotum is not strictly established in dogs or in cats. According to NASCIMENTO & SANTOS (1997), the testicles are usually present in the scrotum at birth in dogs. NELSON & COUTO (1994), NELIS (1995) and MICKELSEN & MEMON (1995) propose that in this species, the descent usually occurs at about 10 days of age. SORRIBAS (1995) mentions one month after birth, while ALLEN (1995) and MIALOT (1988) observed it within 10-12 weeks of age, and NIEMAND & SUTER (1992), at nine weeks. There is a breed variation (NELSON & COUTO, 1994; NASCIMENTO & SANTOS, 1997). In dogs, the testis are palpable in most of the cases from 4 to 5 weeks and usually within 6 to 8 weeks after birth (CHRISTIANSEN, 1986; MICKELSEN & MEMON, 1995; NASCIMENTO & SANTOS, 1997). However, Figure 1. Macroscopic appearance of testis (1), the diagnosis of cryptorchidism in dogs is not really gubernaculum (2) and gubernacular bulb (3) in certain before 6 months of age dog fetus (45 days). (CHRISTIANSEN, 1986). Pathogenesis The causes of cryptorchidism may be genetic, anatomical or endocrine. However, these down to the scrotum (MOORE & PERSAUD, causes are still controversial and may be 1994). The distal portion of the gubernaculum is intrinsically related. The genetic origin has been called the gubernacular bulb. It is sometimes incriminated countless times, since the condition thought that the expansion of the gubernacular has been frequently observed in inbred dogs bulb out of the abdominal cavity (Fig. 2) may (MIALOT, 1988). The most often accepted contribute to the traction that moves the testis hypothesis attributes it to an autosomal sex-linked caudally (COX, 1986). gene (ROMAGNOLI, 1991; MICKELSEN & MEMON, 1995), recessive in all examined Descent of the testis species (BURKE, 1986, MIALOT, 1988, Figure 2. Scheme of testicular descent showing the testis (1), gubernaculum (2), gubernacular bulb (3) and scrotum (4) (reproduced with permission from BAUMANS et al. 1981) 63 ROMAGNOLI, 1991; NELSON & COUTO, ACLAND, (1998) mentions testicular hypoplasia 1994, ALLEN, 1995, HAFEZ, 1995; as a predisposing factor of cryptorchidism. The MICKELSEN & MEMON, 1995), except in same author also reported parturition with the equine, in which it is due to a dominant autosomal male fetus in posterior presentation as gene (HAFEZ, 1995). Males and females carry compromising the blood supply to the testis and the gene and can transmit the pathology to their delay in the closing of the navel, causing offspring (NELSON & COUTO, 1994; retardation in the capacity for increasing the MICKELSEN & MEMON, 1995; abdominal pressure. NASCIMENTO & SANTOS, 1997). So it is The endocrine origin of cryptorchidism important to realize that normal animals can is not well-known (MIALOT, 1988) but seems transmit the pathology due to its recessive to be related