THE EFFECT OF PREPUBERAL AND POSTPUBERAL GONADECTOMY ON RADIAL PHYSEAL CLOSURE IN MALE AND FEMALE DOMESTIC CATS

Male (n = 6/group) and female (n = 6/group) kittens were gonadectomize d at 7 weeks (prepuberally) or 7 months of age (postpuberally), or lef t intact. Lateral radiographic projections of the right forelimb were made from 4 months of age until the distal radial physis was closed, o r 24 months of age. In males, distal radial physeal closure was delaye d in both groups of gonadectomized animals, compared to intact males ( p < 0.01). In females, proximal radial physeal closure was significant ly delayed in prepuberally gonadectomized animals (p = 0.02), and dist al radial physeal closure was significantly delayed in both groups of gonadectomized animals, compared to intact animals (p < 0.01). Final r adial length (females p < 0.01, males p = 0.01), and age and radial le ngth at time of the growth plateau (p < 0.01) were significantly incre ased in all gonadectomized animals. Age at gonadectomy had no effect o n age and radial length at time of the growth plateau. No puberal grow th spurt was observed in any of the cats.