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Abstract This study evaluated the efficacy and safety of surgical castration versus chemical castration of male dogs with the intratesticular injection of formalin 10%, absolute ethanol, and zinc oxide nanoparticle. The study was conducted on twenty clinically healthy adult male dogs with normal descended testes. Dogs were randomly assigned to four experimental groups of five dogs each: surgical group (group S), formalin group (group F), ethanol group (group E), and zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) group (group ZnO). Dogs of the group (S) were castrated surgically. Dogs received a single bilateral intratesticular injection (2 ml/testis) with 10% formalin solution, absolute ethyl alcohol 99.8%, and zinc oxide nanoparticles suspension in groups (F), (E), and (ZnO), respectively, for chemical castration. Blood samples were collected from the cephalic vein under a complete aseptic condition prior to (0hrs) and at 30 minutes, 1-, 7-, 30- and 60- days post-castration in all groups and sent for measurement of testosterone, oxidative stress markers, and liver and kidney function tests. At the end of the study, the testicles of dogs in all groups were surgically removed for histopathological and seminal fluid examination. A hot and painful swelling appeared in the scrotum and scroto-preputeal junction on (F and E), while there were no changes on dogs of the (ZnO) group. Scrotal necrosis and sloughing were recorded in dogs of the (E) group, and one dog of the (F) group showed a scrotal ulcer. Dogs of the (ZnO NPs) group did not record any complications as in other groups. At the end of the study serum testosterone showed a significant decrease in all groups, especially the ZnO group that were like the (S) group. Serum cortisol in all chemical groups (F, ZnO, and E) was similar in their effects to the S group, as there was a significant increase. At the end of the trial serum MDA was considerably increased in the (E and F), while ZnO NPs were similar to the surgical group as there was a significant decrease. Furthermore, nitric oxide levels were increased only at the start of the study in all groups (S, F, E, and ZnO NP) and then returned to normal levels in all study groups except the (E) group, where there was still a significant increase. glutathione at the end of the trial was significantly increased in both (F and E) groups, while the (ZnO NP) group was similar to the (S) group where there was a non-significant change. Estimation of liver function showed a non-significant difference in total bilirubin and total protein levels at the start of the trial, but a rise in AST and ALT serum levels. By the end of the study, bilirubin, AST, and ALT serum levels had returned to normal in all study groups ( S, E, and F) except the ZnO group there was a significant increase in total bilirubin. Also, the ethanol (E) group showed a significant increase in AST and ALT. Evaluation kidney function revealed a significant decline in creatinine levels at the conclusion of all study groups (S, E, F, and ZnO). Furthermore, the blood urea nitrogen concentrations in all study groups (S, E, F, and ZnO) rose at the start of the study and gradually declined until the completion of the study. Semen parameters, the microscopic evaluation of all the treated groups revealed no sperms in the samples collected from the tail of epididymis after 60 days of intratesticular injections. Histopathological findings in both (F and E) revealed congestion of the blood vessels and hemorrhages. The seminiferous tubules showed degeneration, necrosis, dystrophic calcification, and complete arrest of spermatogenesis. While (ZnO) group showed normal seminiferous tubules in sections with different stages of spermatogenesis in the form of spermatogonia, Sertoli cells, spermatocytes, and sperms. However, some sections revealed vacuolar degeneration and necrosis of some seminiferous tubules. |