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The authors wish to thank the staff at CITA de Aragiin and ASERNA (Serrana de Teruel Breeder Association). This study was supported by the European Union Regional Development Fund (Teruel Investment Fund; FITE 2014-451A and 2015-551A of the Government of Aragon) and the Research Group Fund of the Government of Aragon (A14_17R and A05_17R). A. Noya received a grant from INIA-DGA.

Analysis of institutional authors

Noya AAuthorRipoll GAuthorSanz AAuthor

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September 17, 2019
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Effects of an anti-gonadotrophin releasing hormone vaccine on the morphology, structure and function of bull testes.

Publicated to:Theriogenology. 141 211-218 - 2020-01-01 141(), DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2019.07.019

Authors: Monleon, Eva; Noya, Agusti; Carmen Garza, Ma; Ripoll, Guillermo; Sanz, Albina

Affiliations

Centro de Encefalopatías y Enfermedades Transmisibles Emergentes, C/ Miguel Servet 177, 50013, Zaragoza, Spain - Author
Centro de Encefalopatías y Enfermedades Transmisibles Emergentes, C/ Miguel Servet 177, 50013, Zaragoza, Spain. - Author
Centro de Investigación y Tecnología Agroalimentaria (CITA) de Aragón, Avda. Montañana 930, 50059, Zaragoza, Spain. - Author
Ctr Encefalopatias & Enfermedades Transmisibles E, C Miguel Servet 177, Zaragoza 50013, Spain - Author
Ctr Invest & Tecnol Agroalimentaria CITA Aragon, Avda Montanana 930, Zaragoza 50059, Spain - Author
Dpto. de Anatomía e Histología Humanas, Universidad de Zaragoza, C/Domingo Miral S/n, 50009, Zaragoza, Spain - Author
Instituto Agroalimentario de Aragón - IA2 (CITA-Universidad de Zaragoza), C/ Miguel Servet 177, 50013, Zaragoza, Spain - Author
Instituto Agroalimentario de Aragón - IA2 (CITA-Universidad de Zaragoza), C/ Miguel Servet 177, 50013, Zaragoza, Spain. Electronic address: emonleon@unizar.es. - Author
Univ Zaragoza, CITA, IA2, C Miguel Servet 177, E-50013 Zaragoza, Spain - Author
Univ Zaragoza, Dept Anat & Histol Humanas, C Domingo Miral S-N, E-50009 Zaragoza, Spain - Author
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Abstract

Castration reduces aggressive and sexual behaviour and provides better carcass quality in bull calves. Vaccination against gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) is used as an alternative to surgical castration for the purposes of reducing pain and distress in the animals. Currently, no anti-GnRH vaccine has been authorized for use in cattle in the European Union. The aim of the present study was to assess the effect of an anti-GnRH swine-specific vaccine (Improvac®, Zoetis, USA) on the morphology, structure and function of bull testes. Animals were vaccinated at days 1, 21 and 104 of the experimental period and were classified based on their live weight into the following two groups: LIGHT (172.9 ± 30.00 kg) and HEAVY (323.8 ± 37.79 kg). The scrotal circumference was measured on day 1 and prior to slaughter (day 164). At slaughter, the sperm motility and concentration in the caudae epididymis were assessed. Testes were weighed, measured and examined using ultrasound, and then tissue samples were collected and fixed in formalin. Histological and immunohistochemical studies were performed on the testes to measure the diameter of the seminiferous tubules and assess the testicular cell populations. The results revealed that suppression of testicular development was associated with the use of the Improvac® vaccine, which resulted in a smaller size of the testes and impaired spermatid production. However, the effect of Improvac® was more pronounced and consistent in calves vaccinated at a low live weight than at a heavy live weight, which suggested that vaccination is more effective when calves are vaccinated before or early during puberty. However, testes from calves vaccinated at a low live weight were more prone to the development of intraluminal concretions in the seminiferous tubules.Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Keywords

Active immunizationAnimalsBoar taintBullCarcass characteristicsCattleCorpora-amylaceaFactor gnrfGonadotropin-releasing hormoneImmunocastrationImmunohistochemistryMaleMeat qualityOrchiectomyOrgan sizePixel-intensityReproductive-organsScrotumSemen qualitySpermatozoaTestesTesticular microlithiasisTestisUltrasound examinationVaccinationVaccines, contraceptive

Quality index

Bibliometric impact. Analysis of the contribution and dissemination channel

The work has been published in the journal Theriogenology due to its progression and the good impact it has achieved in recent years, according to the agency WoS (JCR), it has become a reference in its field. In the year of publication of the work, 2020, it was in position 21/146, thus managing to position itself as a Q1 (Primer Cuartil), in the category Veterinary Sciences.

From a relative perspective, and based on the normalized impact indicator calculated from World Citations provided by WoS (ESI, Clarivate), it yields a value for the citation normalization relative to the expected citation rate of: 1.02. This indicates that, compared to works in the same discipline and in the same year of publication, it ranks as a work cited above average. (source consulted: ESI Nov 14, 2024)

This information is reinforced by other indicators of the same type, which, although dynamic over time and dependent on the set of average global citations at the time of their calculation, consistently position the work at some point among the top 50% most cited in its field:

  • Weighted Average of Normalized Impact by the Scopus agency: 1.47 (source consulted: FECYT Feb 2024)
  • Field Citation Ratio (FCR) from Dimensions: 3.45 (source consulted: Dimensions Jul 2025)

Specifically, and according to different indexing agencies, this work has accumulated citations as of 2025-07-12, the following number of citations:

  • WoS: 15
  • Scopus: 15
  • Europe PMC: 8

Impact and social visibility

From the perspective of influence or social adoption, and based on metrics associated with mentions and interactions provided by agencies specializing in calculating the so-called "Alternative or Social Metrics," we can highlight as of 2025-07-12:

  • The use, from an academic perspective evidenced by the Altmetric agency indicator referring to aggregations made by the personal bibliographic manager Mendeley, gives us a total of: 33.
  • The use of this contribution in bookmarks, code forks, additions to favorite lists for recurrent reading, as well as general views, indicates that someone is using the publication as a basis for their current work. This may be a notable indicator of future more formal and academic citations. This claim is supported by the result of the "Capture" indicator, which yields a total of: 33 (PlumX).

With a more dissemination-oriented intent and targeting more general audiences, we can observe other more global scores such as:

  • The Total Score from Altmetric: 4.2.
  • The number of mentions on the social network X (formerly Twitter): 6 (Altmetric).

It is essential to present evidence supporting full alignment with institutional principles and guidelines on Open Science and the Conservation and Dissemination of Intellectual Heritage. A clear example of this is:

Leadership analysis of institutional authors

There is a significant leadership presence as some of the institution’s authors appear as the first or last signer, detailed as follows: Last Author (Sanz Pascua, Albina).