Case Report: Do Peripheral Testosterone Concentrations Differ Between Dogs With Abdominal Testicles And Scrotal Testicles? Clinical Implications

Abstract

Cryptorchidism is an important clinical problem and it is not fully known if testosterone production is affected because of the location of the testicles. Hence the peripheral concentrations of testosterone in a cryptorchid dog were measured and compared to dogs with scrotal testicles. Further, the response in testosterone production to human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) was determined in this cryptorchid dog. Baseline testosterone concentrations (209 ng/dL) in the cryptorchid dog were comparable to those in dogs with scrotal testicles (246 + 255.25 ng/dL). Testosterone concentrations increased to 400 ng/dL after hCG injection in this cryptorchid dog. Two structures that appeared to be testicles were removed during a laparatomy. Histologic examination of these structures indicated that one of these structures did not contain testicular tissue, but did contain epididymal and rete testis tissues. Peripheral testosterone concentrations determined five weeks after surgery were < 20 ng/dL suggesting that no testicular tissue remained. Pre- and post-injection testosterone concentrations were also < 20 ng/dL during a subsequent hCG stimulation test.