Long-term reproductive evaluation of a bitch postnatally treated with a GnRH agonist

In mammals, high concentrations of gonadotropins are necessary early in life to reach a full-sized pool of ovarian follicles at the age of puberty. This case report describes the reproductive status of a 28-month-old, 9.1 kg, crossbred bitch (Bitch 1) which had been treated postnatally with 18.8 deslorelin acetate SC for contraceptive purposes. The female had just passed pubertal oestrus when hormones were measured and then spayed. The ovaries were histologically assessed. Two crossbred bitches were used for comparisons. Bitch 1 anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH) and progesterone serum concentrations were 0.35 and 16.7 ng/ml, respectively. The total number of ovarian follicles and proportions were normal and the number of primary and antral follicles was increased. These findings might suggest an enhanced recruitment of the follicle pool to the growing population which could be related to the relatively low AMH concentrations.