Chemical castration of rabbits via intratesticular injection of ethanol or formalin

Abstract EN

The purpose of the study was to determine the efficacy and safety of intratesticular injection of ethanol or formalin as a novel method for chemosterilization of rabbits.

Twenty rabbits, aged (6-8 months) and weighed (1.3-1.5) kg were used.

They were randomly divided into two equal groups.

In the first group, absolute ethanol and in the second group, formalin1% at a dose of 1ml/testis for each agent were injected under the effect of xylazine, by insertion of the needle from the caudo-ventral aspect of the testis then pushed in the center of the testis toward the cranio-dorsal pole of the testis.

Orchidectomy was done at first and second months postinjection, samples from the testes and epididymis were taken for histopathological evaluation of testicular changes.

Histopathological examination revealed atrophy of the seminiferous tubules, degeneration or vacuolation of sertoli cells and the leydig cells replaced by fibrous connective tissue.

The of epididymis show narrowing of the epididymal lumen.

The severity and distribution of the lesions were more pronounced in formalin group, although both agents had the ability to induce sterilization in rabbits.