Oral Administration of An Anti-inflammatory Drug Does Not Compromise the Efficacy of Intratesticular Injection of Zinc Gluconate as a Contraceptive for Dogs

Introduction

We have demonstrated the potential of a single intratesticular injection of a zinc gluconate solution (Testoblock; Biorelease Technologies, LLC, Birmingham, AL) as an irreversible contraceptive for male dogs. The results reported in a six-month study revealed that dogs were azoospermic 60 days after injection and histological and ultrastructural changes suggested irreversibility. Recently we observed that some dogs presented discomfort after the procedure and others2 reported the same situation after using a similar drug in male dogs. In this study, an oral analgesic with anti-inflammatory action was administered for two days. One of the mechanisms of action of zinc when injected into the testis is the disruption of the Sertoli cell barrier and induction of a local immune and inflammatory response that causes cellular alteration and interruption of spermatogenesis. Therefore, the use of an anti-inflammatory drug could affect this mechanism of action of zinc gluconate and compromise the efficacy of the chemical sterilization procedure. [...]