ArticleBMC veterinary research2024
Is castration leading to biological aging in dogs? Assessment of lipid peroxidation, inflammation, telomere length, mitochondrial DNA copy number, and expression of telomerase and age-related genes.
Article in BMC veterinary research, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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Who cites it
2 citing papers in PubMed.
- Nutrition Research in Aging Dogs and Cats: What We Know and What We Need to Do.Animals : an open access journal from MDPI · 2026Review
- Efficacy of celastrol-supplemented diet in overweight and obese dogs: a 24-week randomized controlled trial.Frontiers in veterinary science · 2025Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
6 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundBiological aging is a complex process influenced by various factors, including reproductive status and castration. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of castration on biological aging in dogs.
methodFifteen male crossbred dogs were randomly divided into a sham-operation control group (n = 5) and a castrated group (n = 10). Blood samples were collected at weeks 0, 4, 8, 12, 16, and 18 post-surgery. Malondialdehyde (MDA as indicator of Lipid peroxidation), C-reactive protein (as an indicator of inflammation), telomere length, mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) copy number, and the expression of age-related (P16, P21, TBX2) and telomerase-related (TERT) genes were assessed in blood samples.
resultsPlasma MDA levels were higher in the control group at weeks 16 and 18, while CRP levels were higher only at week 18. Telomere length and mtDNA copy number were lower in the control group at week 18. Gene expression analysis showed that P16 was lower in the control group at weeks 8 and 12, P21 and TERT were lower at weeks 16 and 18, and TBX2 was lower at weeks 16 and 18. The TBX2/P16 ratio was lower in the control group at weeks 16 and 18 but higher at week 12, while the TBX2/P21 ratio did not differ between groups.
conclusionCastration appears to have a protective effect against biological aging in dogs, as evidenced by lower lipid peroxidation, inflammation, and age-related changes in telomere length, mtDNA copy number, and gene expression.
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Registered trials
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