Mv. Root et al., THE EFFECT OF PREPUBERAL AND POSTPUBERAL GONADECTOMY ON RADIAL PHYSEAL CLOSURE IN MALE AND FEMALE DOMESTIC CATS, Veterinary radiology & ultrasound, 38(1), 1997, pp. 42-47
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.