Testicular compensatory hypertrophy related to hemicastration in prepubertal dogs

Several studies have reported that the plasma testosterone (T) level and semen volume are compensated after hemicastration (HEC) in adult dogs, but that the sperm count is not. Nevertheless, the effects of HEC in prepubertal dogs have not been reported. In this study, HEC was performed at 16 weeks of age in 8 male beagles, and the function of the residual testis was investigated until 48 weeks of age. The testis volume was consistently higher in the HEC group than the control (CON) group. After 40 weeks of age, compensatory hypertrophy was observed, with a mean testis volume of 125% of that in the CON group (p<0.05). Furthermore, the semen volume and plasma testosterone (T) level were similar to those in the CON group, suggesting functional compensation, but the sperm count was not compensated. These results showed that the testis volume, semen volume, and plasma T level were compensated after HEC in prepubertal dogs, but the spermatogenic function was not.