Can detomidine replace medetomidine for pharmacological semen collection in domestic cats?

• Published in: Animal reproduction 2021-01, Vol.18 (2), p.e20210017-e20210017
• Main Authors: Silva, Maitê Cardoso Coelho da, Ullony, Karitha Marques, Araújo, Gediendson Ribeiro de, Jorge-Neto, Pedro Nacib, Albuquerque, Verônica Batista, Caramalac, Simone Marques, Oliveira, Alice Rodrigues de, Zanella, Ricardo, Marques, Mariana Groke, Csemark Junior, Antonio Carlos, Luczinski, Thiago Cavalheri, Frazílio, Fabrício de Oliveira, Silva, Eliane Vianna da Costa e, Deco-Souza, Thyara de
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: BIOTECHNOLOGY & APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY; Original
• ISSN: 1806-9614; 1984-3143; 1984-3143
• DOI: 10.1590/1984-3143-ar2021-0017

Among the different methods used for semen collection from domestic cats, the pharmacological collection by urethral catheterization becomes disruptive. Medetomidine is the elected α 2 -adrenoceptor agonist for that, but in several countries, it is not commercially available. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of detomidine compared to medetomidine in collecting semen by urethral catheterization in domestic cats. Urethral catheterization was performed on 13 mongrel cats using a disposable semi-rigid tomcat urinary catheter. Of the 19 semen collections performed with medetomidine induction, 94.7% were successful, while with detomidine induction, only 56.3% of 16 were successful. The values semen samples variables were as follows for volume - 10.56 ± 0.4 vs 8.88 ± 0.5 mL, motility - 171.67 ± 0.79 vs 49.77 ± 3.45%, vigor – 4.1 ± 0.03 vs 3.10 ± 0.1 and concentration - 3.24 ± 0.19 vs 2.15 ± 0.13 ×10 9 sperm/mL respectively for medetomidine and detomidine group. The failure in semen collections with detomidine was mainly due to azoospermic samples, poor urethral relaxation, insufficient volume, or contamination of urine. The sperm concentration was also lower in the detomidine group (P