Topic:Monorchidism
Monorchidism in horses refers to a condition where only one testicle is present in the scrotum, while the other is either absent or retained within the abdomen or inguinal canal. This condition is a type of cryptorchidism, which can affect a horse's reproductive capabilities and behavior. Monorchidism is observed in various breeds and can be congenital or result from developmental anomalies. Veterinary assessment typically involves palpation, ultrasound, and hormone testing to confirm the presence and location of the retained testicle. This page aggregates peer-reviewed research studies and scholarly articles that explore the etiology, diagnosis, and management of monorchidism in equine populations.
Monorchidism in the horse. Six horses with monorchidism, identified at surgery for cryptorchidectomy, are reported. All six presented with a single scrotal testis. Following surgical removal of one testis, they were either hormonally, anatomically or behaviourally determined to be geldings. Three other horses reported in the literature are reviewed. Of these nine cases of monorchidism, eight were thought to be caused by testicular degeneration and one by testicular agenesis. The vaginal process was present in all of the former and absent in the latter. The left side was involved in five of these eight horses. In seven, ...