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. 2021 Jul 10;14(1):265.
doi: 10.1186/s13104-021-05680-y.

Short-term effect of ovariohysterectomy on urine serotonin, cortisol, testosterone and progesterone in bitches

Eva Hydbring-Sandberg  1 , Elin Larsson  2 , Andrzej Madej  2 , Odd Viking Höglund  3
Affiliations

Short-term effect of ovariohysterectomy on urine serotonin, cortisol, testosterone and progesterone in bitches

Eva Hydbring-Sandberg et al. BMC Res Notes. .

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the short-term effect of ovariohysterectomy on urine levels of serotonin and its relation to levels of cortisol, testosterone and progesterone in female dogs. Seven bitches were studied before surgical ovariohysterectomy and then once a week during 4 weeks. Spontaneously voided urine samples were collected and concentration ratios of hormone/creatinine in urine were analysed.

Results: The bitches had significantly lower levels of cortisol, testosterone, and progesterone 1 week after ovariohysterectomy compared with before and the levels stayed low throughout the study (P ≤ 0.05). Interestingly, serotonin levels tended to increase 4 weeks after surgery (P = 0.08). A positive correlation between cortisol and progesterone was found before and after surgery. After surgery, serotonin was positively correlated with cortisol and progesterone (P ≤ 0.05).

Keywords: Bitches; Canine; Cortisol; Gonadectomy; Neuter; Progesterone; Serotonin; Spay; Testosterone; Urinary hormones.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Serotonin/creatinine ratios (mean value ± standard error) in seven bitches before and after ovariohysterectomy. W = weeks. The morning sample before surgery included only six bitches due to problems with collecting. The serotonin levels did not differ significantly between the morning before ovariohysterectomy and the other samples. Four weeks after surgery the levels tended to be higher than that before (P = 0.08)
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Cortisol/creatinine ratios (mean value ± standard error) in seven bitches before and after ovariohysterectomy. W = weeks. The cortisol level was higher the morning before ovariohysterectomy compared with all samples after ovariohysterectomy and the evening before. *Significantly different from morning sample before ovariohysterectomy. P ≤ 0.05
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
a Testosterone/creatinine ratios (mean value ± standard error) in seven bitches before and after ovariohysterectomy. W = weeks. The testosterone levels decreased after ovariohysterectomy and stayed low in all samples. Evening and morning ratios before ovariohysterectomy did not differ. *Significantly different from morning sample before ovariohysterectomy. P ≤ 0.05. b Progesterone/creatinine ratios (mean value ± standard error) in seven bitches before and after ovariohysterectomy. W = weeks. The progesterone level decreased after ovariohysterectomy and stayed low in all samples. Evening and morning ratios before ovariohysterectomy did not differ. *Significantly different from morning sample before ovariohysterectomy. P ≤ 0.05
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