Analysis of gonadocorticoids profile in canine patients diagnosed with ovarian cysts

Abstract

Veterinarians can obtain a more comprehensive understanding of the progression of ovarian cystic pathology in dogs by assessing hormonal levels. This study aimed to examine the gonadocorticoid profile of dogs diagnosed with ovarian cysts and compare these levels with those of healthy female dogs. The study included 96 female dogs split into two groups: a control group of healthy females and a study group of females with ovarian cysts larger than 4.5–5 mm in diameter and in diestrus or anestrus phase, determined by progesterone measurements. The control group had no ovarian pathologies and matched the estrus cycle phase of the study group. Ovarian cysts were diagnosed using the Esaote MyLab X5 ultrasound machine, while sex hormone levels (testosterone, progesterone, and estradiol) were measured with the Biomerieux MiniVidas analyzer. The analyzer utilizes the Enzyme Linked Fluorescent Assay (ELFA) technique for hormonal assessments. The study group (ovarian cysts) had significantly higher estradiol levels (21.83 pg/ml) compared to the control group (10.70 pg/ml). However, there was no significant difference in progesterone levels between the two groups. The study group females showed significantly higher estradiol levels in both the anestrus phase (p = 0.0105) and the diestrus phase (p = 0.0105). There was also a significant difference in estradiol levels between control group females in diestrus and anestrus, with significantly higher levels observed in the anestrus phase (p = 0.0105). In summary, female dogs with ovarian cysts had higher estradiol levels in both estrus and anestrus phases compared to the control group. The authors recommend assessing hormonal profiles in dogs with ovarian cysts for better treatment planning.

Keywords

• canine ovarian cysts
• estradiol
• progesterone
• gonadocorticoids