Academic Journal
Testosterone suppression with or without testicular Preservation: Impact on mouse behavior, including emotional state, locomotor activity, social interaction, cognitive function, and sexual behavior.
| Title: | Testosterone suppression with or without testicular Preservation: Impact on mouse behavior, including emotional state, locomotor activity, social interaction, cognitive function, and sexual behavior. |
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| Authors: | Zang Y; College of Coastal Agricultural Sciences, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang, 524088, Guangdong, China; College of Animal Science, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi, 830052, Xinjiang, China., Lin L; College of Coastal Agricultural Sciences, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang, 524088, Guangdong, China; State Key Laboratory of Sheep Genetic Improvement and Healthy Production, Xinjiang Academy of Agricultural and Reclamation Sciences, Shihezi, 832000, Xinjiang, China., Lu Y; College of Coastal Agricultural Sciences, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang, 524088, Guangdong, China., Luo M; College of Coastal Agricultural Sciences, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang, 524088, Guangdong, China., Wang L; State Key Laboratory of Sheep Genetic Improvement and Healthy Production, Xinjiang Academy of Agricultural and Reclamation Sciences, Shihezi, 832000, Xinjiang, China., Xu M; State Key Laboratory of Sheep Genetic Improvement and Healthy Production, Xinjiang Academy of Agricultural and Reclamation Sciences, Shihezi, 832000, Xinjiang, China., Huang A; State Key Laboratory of Sheep Genetic Improvement and Healthy Production, Xinjiang Academy of Agricultural and Reclamation Sciences, Shihezi, 832000, Xinjiang, China., Ma J; College of Coastal Agricultural Sciences, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang, 524088, Guangdong, China., Du C; College of Coastal Agricultural Sciences, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang, 524088, Guangdong, China., Wei C; College of Coastal Agricultural Sciences, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang, 524088, Guangdong, China., Liu W; College of Animal Science, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi, 830052, Xinjiang, China. Electronic address: wujunliu1026@xjau.edu.cn., Gao R; College of Coastal Agricultural Sciences, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang, 524088, Guangdong, China. Electronic address: gaorui_shz@sina.com., Gan S; College of Coastal Agricultural Sciences, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang, 524088, Guangdong, China. Electronic address: shangquangan@gdou.edu.cn. |
| Source: | Biochemical and biophysical research communications [Biochem Biophys Res Commun] 2025 Aug 30; Vol. 776, pp. 152187. Date of Electronic Publication: 2025 Jun 16. |
| Publication Type: | Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't |
| Language: | English |
| Journal Info: | Publisher: Elsevier Country of Publication: United States NLM ID: 0372516 Publication Model: Print-Electronic Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 1090-2104 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 0006291X NLM ISO Abbreviation: Biochem Biophys Res Commun Subsets: MEDLINE |
| Imprint Name(s): | Publication: <2002- >: San Diego, CA : Elsevier Original Publication: New York, Academic Press. |
| MeSH Terms: | Testosterone*/antagonists & inhibitors , Testosterone*/metabolism , Testis*/surgery , Cognition*/physiology , Sexual Behavior, Animal*/physiology , Orchiectomy*/methods , Orchiectomy*/psychology , Emotions*/physiology , Social Interaction*, Animals ; Male ; Mice ; Locomotion ; Behavior, Animal ; Depression |
| Abstract: | The deposition of androgens significantly influences livestock meat quality, yet traditional surgical castration methods involving testicular removal raise concerns about animal welfare due to their association with stress and behavioral changes. To address these issues, this study compared two approaches-surgical castration (testicular removal) and immunocastration (retention of testicular tissue)-to evaluate their psychological and behavioral impacts in mice across domains such as sexual behavior, emotional regulation, locomotor activity, social interaction, and memory performance. Results demonstrated that surgical castration induced robust depressive-like symptoms, including reduced motivation and impaired social engagement, whereas immunocastrated mice exhibited normal emotional and social behaviors without signs of depression or distress. These findings highlight the psychological burden of surgical castration and underscore the ethical implications of its use. Immunocastration emerges as a more humane alternative, effectively controlling sexual behavior without inducing depressive-like symptoms, likely by preserving the animals' sense of normalcy and dignity. This study emphasizes the importance of balancing productivity with ethical considerations in livestock management and provides valuable insights for advancing welfare-friendly castration methods. By advocating for immunocastration, this research contributes to improving animal welfare standards while maintaining meat quality, offering a promising alternative to traditional practices. (Copyright © 2025 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.) |
| Competing Interests: | Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper. |
| Contributed Indexing: | Keywords: Animal welfare and ethics; Behavior; GnRH immunocastration; Surgical castration; Testosterone suppression |
| Substance Nomenclature: | 3XMK78S47O (Testosterone) |
| Entry Date(s): | Date Created: 20250620 Date Completed: 20250721 Latest Revision: 20260323 |
| Update Code: | 20260323 |
| DOI: | 10.1016/j.bbrc.2025.152187 |
| PMID: | 40540949 |
| Database: | MEDLINE |
| ISSN: | 1090-2104 |
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| DOI: | 10.1016/j.bbrc.2025.152187 |