NationalLibraryOfScotland/medical-history-of-british-india huggingface dataset:
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enlargement of the male sex organs and particularly of the seminal vesicles,
following injection of the urine of pregnant women into male rats or mice.
Recently Jongh and Laqueur [1931] have shown that the ovarian hormone arrests
the development of the testes and the dependent male sex organs, but the sub-
stance from the anterior pituitary or apparently a substance identical with it, as
found in the urine of early pregnancy, promotes the development of the testes
and the associated sex organs. The considerable enlargement of the testes after the
administration of the anterior lobe hormone when present is insignificant as com-
pared with the striking increase (30 times or more) in the size of the seminal
vesicles. They further studied the action of this hormone on the genitals of senile
male rats and have found that the sex organs are reactivated, interstitial tissues
are increased and seminal vesicles are enlarged again by means of gravid urine.
Gerard [1931] showed that the testicle of the hedgehog which is normally quiescent
in the winter reacts to injection of pregnacy urine by marked activity of the inter-
stitial cells. The seminal vesicles and prostate in the young animal become rapidly
enlarged after injection. Interesting results have been obtained by Foucin [1931],
who found that the injection of urine from pregnant women in the immature testis
of the guinea pig rendered cryptorchid by operation, causes the interstitial tissue to
develop rapidly. The contents of the seminal tubules were unaffected. Develop-
ment of the seminal vesicles ran parallel with that of the interstitial gland and
these organs attained to full size as in normal animals. Various drugs like glucose
[Zondek, 1931], and suphosalicylic acid [Crew and others, 1931] have been used to
render the urine less toxic on experimental mice or treated animals. In cases of
endocrinal or dietetic deficiency [Meigs, 1927] readjustment of diet is necessary. In
obesity, reduction in the quantity of food and moderate exercise are indicated.
Since it is well known that mares failing to hold to one sire sometimes do so
readily to others, Todd [1931] considers it a sound procedure to recommed the use
of a second sire to obviate sterility in cases where a foal is a financial consideration.
Therapeutic drugs except when given as tonics are useless in cases of male
sterility. In studying the stimulation of guinea pig sperms suspended in a glucose
saline fluid, bufferred at pH 8 by means of drugs, Baker [1931] found that strychnine
hydrochloride had a marked stimulating effect at 1/16, 1/64, 1/256 per cent. Bru¬
cine hydrochloride, which was half as poisonous, has the same stimulating effect
on sperms. He expressed the hope that this discovery might find practical appli¬
cation in medicine and agriculture wherever sterility be due to inactivity of sperms.
As already mentioned, the mere changes in the hydrogen-ion concentration of
the semen has a profound effect upon the motility of the spermatozoa and therefore
on the fertility of a male. Unterberger [1930] reports that the addition of bicarbonate
DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT OF STERILITY IN STALLION AND BULL
195
of soda to the vaginal contents during coitus results in the cure of many cases of
sterility. This is perhaps due to the correction of excessive acidity which is found
in the vaginal contents of these sterile cases. The work of Anderson, Peter and
Healey [1921] suggests that douching of the vaginal canal before coitus with a
strongly bufferred solution, as phosphates, bicarbonates of the required pH (7.3 in
the case of stallions), may produce beneficial results.
In man, diathermy and massaging of the prostate and testicles have been
recommended for sterility accompanied with sluggish motility of sperms, but these
operations would not seem practicable in the case of the larger animals.
Human physicians claim that 40 grains of the anterior lobe of the pituitary and
12 grains of desiccated suprarenal daily have cured cases of sterility in the human
male by increasing motility, number and size of the sperms. Jakeman [1931] says
that many cases of sterility attributed to testicular dysfunction are doubtless due
to anterior pituitary deficiency and may be corrected by the administration of
anterior pituitary in doses ranging from 3 to 10 grains per day and presumably he is
referring to cattle. From the above, a dose rate may be worked out, as such
experimental treatment would certainly seem indicated. Proprietary preparations
are obtainable from several manufacturers, for example :—
(1) Carnrick & Co.'s " Viriligen " is indicated in lowered virility and sexual
neurasthenia of functional origin. It presents desiccated extracts of
anterior pituitary, suprarenal cortex, lymph, brain and spinal cord sub-
stance, and. 1/10 gr. thyroid. It is obtainable in tablets, capsules or
ampoules from Messrs. B. K. Paul & Co., 1, Bonfield's Lane, Calcutta.
(2) The Veterinary Division of Glandular Laboratories of America, 72, Cort¬
landt Street, New York City, prepares glandular preparations for ex-
clusive use in animals. Two pluriglandular preparations are available
for the treatment of sterility in the male, viz. " Semidrol " for intramus-
cular injection and " Prosek " for oral administration.
(3) Armour & Co.'s " Ovotestis ". Frei [1930] recommended the use of this
preparation " Ovotestis " in cases of nymphomania, but no reference
to its use in the male is available [Tutt, 1931].
At the end of such treatment the seminal fluid should be examined for sperms.
From the nature of the ingredients in the above preparations it appears that
" Ovotestis " is not likely to be so useful as the first two in the condition under
reference.
Implantation of gonads [Miller, 1931] into various domesticated animals of both
sexes, which had apparently ceased to breed, has been carried out by various
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workers and it is claimed that recrudescence of fertility, sexual potency and an
enhancement of bodily functions generally takes place. Recently Lebedinsky [1931]
has shown that a number of phenomena of senility are to a great extent abolished
by tearing and compressing the testicular tissue and that these effects are maintained
for 9½ months. It is suggested that the effects are due to blocking up of the
contents of the seminiferous tubules in the testes like those of vasoligation, ligature
of the epididymis and vasectomy.
In cases of inflammatory conditions of the genitalia [Dimock and Snyder, 1924],
or even in cases of defective sperms, a complete sexual rest for varying periods may
be tried. A case is on record where after a complete sexual rest of 25 days, another
sample was obtained which showed a remarkable improvement in the staining
qualities, whereas the previous samples showed only degenerate sperms.
REFERENCES.
Anderson, W. S., Peter, A. M., Healey, D. T. (1921e)—The hydrogen-inn concentration of horse
semen. Jl. Amer.Vet. Med. Ass. 60,291.
Baker, J. R. (1931)—The stimulation of spermatozoa by drugs. Nature 127, 3210, 9th May, p.
708.
Conklin, R. L. (1930)—Sterility, its prophylaxis and treatment. XIth Internat. Vet. Cong.
London. 3, 399.
Crew, F. A. E. (1924)-The genetic aspects of sterility. Vet. Rec. 4, 847-854.
Crew, F. A. E., Miller, W. C., Anderson J. (1931)—Diagnosis of equine pregnancy. Vet. Jl. 87,
450-456.
Dimock, W. W., and Snyder, E. (1924)—Bacteria of the genital tract of mares, the semen of
stallions and their relation to the breeding efficiency. Jl. Amer. Vet. Med. Ass. 64, 288.
DeJongh, S. E., and Laqueur, E. (1931)—Action of hormone from anterior pituitary on senile
animals. Physiological Abstracts, 1931, 16, 559.
Foucin, K. (1931)—Reaction of immature cryptorchid testes to urine of pregnant women.
Physiological Abstracts, 16, 564.
Donham, C. R., Sims, B. I., Shaw, J. N. (1931)-Jl. Amer. Vet. Med. Ass. 31, 658 and 665.
Frei, W. (1930)—Prophylaxis and Therapie des Strilität des weiblichen Rindes. Internat. Vet.
Cong. London, 371-385.
Gerard, P. (1931)—Action of pregnant urine on genital tract of hibernating hedgehog. Physiologi¬
cal Abstracts, 16, 421.
Gilman, H. (1922)—A study of some factors influencing fertility and sterility in the bull. Rep.
N. Y. State Vet. College, pp. 63-126.
Hindmarsh (1931)—Sterility in dairy cattle in New South Wales. Vety. Res. Rep. No. 6, Dept.
of Agri. N. S. W., Parts I and II, pp. 81-90.
Jakeman (1931)—Glandular therapy in Veterinary practice. Vet. Med. 504, 502.
Kelley, R. B. (1932)—Sterility in Animals. Austral. Vet. Jl. 8, 47-58.
Kohn, J. (1930) —Pathology and treatment of Sterility and Infectious Abortion with reference to
endocrinology and the possibilities of Chemotherapy. —Berl. Tier. Woch. 46, 416-417,
Vet. Bull. I, 92.
Lebedinsky, N. G. (1931)—The effect of tearing and compression of the testicular tissue on
senility. Physiological Abstracts, 16, 561.
DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT OF STERILITY IN STALLION AND BULL
197
Meigs, E. B. (1927)-Nutritional deficiencies in Abortion. Jl. Am. Vet. Med. Ass. 70, 853-866.
Miller, W. C. (1931)—Rejuvenation and gland grafting. Vet. Rec. 11, 1124-1126.
Osborne, T. B., and Mendel, L. B. (1919)-Jl. Biol. Chem. 38, 223.
Paul, C. B. (1906) Jl. of Physiol. 34, 14.
Popa, G. T. (1929)—Spermatozoa, motility in bull, rain and man. Comp. Rend. Soc. Biol. 100,
45.
Quinlan, J. (1929)—Researches into sterility of cows in South Africa. 15th Report of Director
of Veterinary Services. pp. 833—1055.
Richter (1931) -Sterility in bulls. Abstract in Vet. Rec. 1932,12, 226.
Sanders, H. G. (1926)—On the fertility of stallions. Jl. Agr. Sc. 16, 491.
Stalfors, H. (1930)—Some new observations and experiments concerning sterility in cattle.
Cornell Vet. 20,1-30.
Todd, A. G. (1931)—Discussion on E. B. Reynold's article on Sterility in the Mare. Vet. Rec.
11, 1120-1124.
Tutt, J. F. D. (1931)— Vet. Rec. 11, 1192 and 74 (Ovotestis).
Unterbergher, F. (1930)—Deutsche Medizinische Wchnschft Feby. 21st., p. 304. Cited in Lancet,
1930. I. 475 and 637.
Walker, K. (1929). Interpretation of tests of fertility and sterility in the male. Lancet 2,
995-996.
Williams, W. L. (1920). Technique for collecting semen for Laboratory examination with a
review of several diseased bulls. Cornell Vet. 10, 87-94.
—
(1923). The male as a spreader of genital affections. Cornell Vet. 13, 108.
—
(1926). Genital diseases of horses. Cornell Vet. 16, 107.
—
and Savage, W. H. (1925). Observations on the seminal micropathology of
bulls. Cornell Vet. 15, 353.
—
and Savage, W. H. (1927). Methods of determining the reproductive health
and fertility of bulls. Cornell Vet. 17, 374.
Zondek, B. (1931). More rapid Aschheim-Zondek Reaction. Physiological Abstracts 16, 565.
SELECTED ARTICLE
NUTRITION IN RELATION TO REPRODUCTION, WITH SPECIAL
REFERENCE TO STERILITY.*
BY
I. LEITCH, M.A., D.Sc.,
Imperial Bureau of Animal Nutrition, Aberdeen.
The occurrence of sterility in farm animals, and more particularly in dairy
herds, is so common as to render it a problem of first-class importance. An inquiry
into wastage in dairy herds, made at the Hannah Dairy Research Institute (1),
showed that disease disposals constitute 44.3 per cent. of the total and that re-
productive troubles, failure to breed and abortion, form the largest single class of
causes, totalling 19.3 per cent. of the whole. Similar studies in Kent (2).. covering
a total of 82 herds during 1928-30, showed that sterility was the chief single cause
of disposals, accounting for 26 per cent. of the total, and studies in Cambridge for
the year 1928-29 (3) gave a similar result with 23.72 per cent. of disposal due to
sterility. In the two latter studies the annual general replacement rates were
between 20 and 25 per cent. The problem appears to exist wherever intensive
dairy farming is practised. In many areas it is important also under extensive
conditions, and, although accurate data do not appear to exist, it is evident that
sterility is commonly regarded as one of the major problems of animal husbandry
throughout Europe and in the Dominions (4).
The problem of sterility is possibly less acute in other classes of farm stock
than in dairy herds. In pigs the incidence varies greatly and appears to be, to a
large extent, dependent on management (5). But breeding difficulties exist in all
classes of stock, and the sum total of losses involved must represent a very con-
siderable total.
From the practical point of view, sterility in the female is of greater im-
portance than in the male. The subject will, therefore, be discussed chiefly in
regard to the female. The causes of sterility may conveniently be dealt with under
two main heads, infective and nutritional.
*Reprinted from the Imporial Bureau of Animal Nutrition : Nutrition Abstracts and Reviews, Vol. II,
No. 3.
( 198 )
NUTRITION IN RELATION TO REPRODUCTION
199
INFECTIONS IN RELATION TO STERILITY.
Contagious Abortion. The chief cause of sterility in this class and, according
to some observers, the chief cause of sterility generally, is contagious abortion.
The disease is very widespread, and appears to be increasing rather than decreasing
(6, 7). It is difficult, however, to make a true estimate of its importance as a
cause of sterility. The initial losses of calf and milk are so great that the tendency
is to early disposal.
Dalrymple-Champneys (8) states that 80 per cent. of
infected cows abort only once, and Smith (9) considers that recurrence
of abortion and chronic disease are due, not to the abortion bacillus,
but to secondary infections with other pyogenic organisms.
According to
Robbin (10), the number of infected cows that become sterile, following abortion,
is estimated by different observers at from 20 to 75 per cent. Davis and Morgan
(11) found that 20 per cent. were sterile following a single abortion and a further
10 per cent. became sterile after a time. Gwatkin (12) found either difficulty in
breeding or sterility in 17.7 per cent. of reactors as compared with only 3.9 per cent.
in non-reactors. On the other hand, there are observers who consider contagious
abortion of minor importance as a cause of sterility (13, 14), and who state that
sterility is not more frequent where abortion is common than in abortion-free
areas (15).
Other Infections.—Other conditions of infectious origin, regarded as causes of
sterility, are endometritis and vaginitis. It is suggested that sterility may
accompany vaginitis because of the existence in such conditions of ' spermatoxins '
and ' spermalysins' (16). Endometritis has been thought to act in the same way,
or to have a more direct action by preventing implantation of the ovum.
Endometritis appears also to be associated in a large number of cases with functional
disturbances or degenerative changes in the ovary, consisting in interruption
of the normal cycle, either during maturation of the ovum with atresia and cystic
degeneration of the follicle, or by failure of absorption of the corpus luteum
and consequent prevention of maturation of other follicles. Some consider that
these changes are caused by the uterine infection; others consider that nutritional
inadequacy may be to some extent responsible for both the infection and the
ovarian changes.
Meigs (17) put forward the suggestion that dietary deficiencies, in particular
deficiency of calcium, might be partly responsible for susceptibility to contagious
abortion. No evidence appears to have been forthcoming in support of this idea.
Smythe (18) states that contagious abortion in Cornwall is more common on
granite soil than on any other type, and attributes the difference to dietary
deficiency. On the other hand, White, Rettger and Chapman (19) did not find
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that prolonged feeding of calcium and phosphorus cured or prevented the infection.
Folmer Nielsen (20) points out that the importance of contagious abortion
depends, chiefly, on its chronicity. If this, as Smith suggests, is due, not to
Br. abortus, but to other organisms it might be thought that, following the first
abortion, the condition should be regarded in the same way as other infections.
There appears to be good ground for the view that diet affects susceptibility
to infection. Williams (21, 87) points out that bacteriological studies show
that the organs of the non-pregnant cow contain many bacteria which are usually
harmless, but assume a pathogenic role under unfavourable influences. Such
unfavourable influences, he suggests, are to be found in improper feeding. Nielsen
(20) shows that the incidence of uterine infections and of the associated ovarian
changes increases with number of gestations and lactations, and Quinlan (24)
emphasises the importance, in the treatment of all such cases, of attention to
diet. These suggestions are in complete agreement with what is known of
susceptibility to infections of other areas (22). Deficiency of vitamin A alters
the condition of the mucous membrances of the respiratory passages, and the
defence mechanisms of the body, so that organisms which normally exist in the
body without causing signs of disease become pathogenic. A rickets-producing
diet, fed to rats which are normally immune to tuberculosis, cause them to become
highly susceptible. Hence there is an increasing tendency to believe that these
infections of the genital tract may be, to some extent at least, the result of poor
condition and improper feeding. Stalfors (23) considers that catarrhal conditions
of the uterus may depend on lack of tone in the uterine muscle, and that the
effect of iodine irrigation, as frequently practised, may be due to the stimulant
action rather than to any antiseptic property of the solution used. An excellent
review of this question is given by Quinlan (24), who is also of opinion that the
adequacy of diet has not received sufficient attention.
Ovarian changes.—Again, although it cannot be denied that ovarian changes
may arise in consequence of infection of other parts of the genital system,
there is abundant evidence that such changes may be the direct result of faulty
nutrition. Presumptive evidence is afforded by the conditions under which ovarian
disease usually occurs. According to Hess (13), cystic degeneration of the
ovaries occurs most frequently in early maturing, high-milking breeds, and
it occurs at an earlier age where breeding and milk production are intensive.
Although actual statistical data do not appear to exist, this seems to be the
consensus of opinion. It implies that the nutritional demands for early maturity,
frequent breeding and sustained high-milk production are not fully met. Conklin
(25) definitely attributes to this cause the sterility following record-breaking
NUTRITION IN RELATION TO REPRODUCTION
201
performances in milk production. He points out that the animals are usually
stall-fed for long periods on diets exceedingly rich in concentrates, and that actual
symptoms of deficiency (bone disease) occur. The output of mineral matter in
high milk production is enormous, and unless special provision is made to meet
the requirements, depletion of the skeleton is bound to occur. Stockklausner (15)
and Frei (26) both regard this as one of the causes contributing to produce
sterility.
MALNUTRITION IN RELATION TO STERILITY.
Under-nutrition.—Fertility depends, in the first place, on the simple quantita-
tive adequacy of the diet. Famine and war sterility or diminished fertility,
is known in all classes of farm animals and in human beings. Following the
Great War, sterility was common in cattle, goats and sheep in Germany and
Hungary (14). In goats sterility increased from the normal, about 5 per cent.
to 20 or 25 per cent., and in sheep from 10 to 40 per cent. Under-feeding is well
known as a cause of sterility in range herds and in sheep on poor pastures. Indeed,
it has been suggested that the natural habitats of sheep have been determined
by the limits within which climatic conditions allow a sufficiency of natural
pasture (27). On poor grazings the lamb crop may be as low as 25.50 per cent.
(28).
Experiments by Loeb (29) indicate how this sterility may be produced.
In guinea-pigs, underfed on a normal ration, degeneration and atresia of the
maturing ovarian follicles occurred, with failure of ovulation and complete
sterility.
Over-feeding.—On the other hand, over-feeding is also known to be detrimental
to optimal breeding performance. In cattle ' show condition ' and in sheep ' high
condition ', as produced for flock competitions, are associated with low fertility or
failure to breed (30, 27). In brood sows, over-fatness appears to be a common
cause of sterility. According to some veterinarians, cystic changes in the ovary
occur most frequently in fat animals.
Flushing.—In contrast to the effect of continued high condition, a stimulating
effect of ovulation is produced by flushing (31). It appears that the nature of the
feed used to produce the flush is relatively unimportant. In animals that are fit,
but not over-fed, any sudden increase in feed will stimulate ovarian activity,
promote the occurrence of œstrus and increase the number of ova shed. In a
series of observations (32) on a total of 1,033 flushed ewes, the number of lambs per
100 ewes was 154, as compared with 140 in 4,054, ewes not flushed. In another series
(33), flushed on extra good pasture, the lambs per 100 ewes 164, as compared with
143 from control ewes.
G