Evaluation of Platelet Indices and Their Derived Ratios in Experimentally Induced Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia in Dogs and Response to Finasteride and Melatonin Treatment

Beydokhti Nejad, Mohammad Hesam; Mir Shokraei, Pezhman; Ahmadi Hamedani, Mahmood; Mirshahi, Ali

doi:10.22075/jvlr.2026.41577.1231

Evaluation of Platelet Indices and Their Derived Ratios in Experimentally Induced Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia in Dogs and Response to Finasteride and Melatonin Treatment

Articles in Press

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Mohammad Hesam Beydokhti Nejad ¹

Pezhman Mir Shokraei ¹

Mahmood Ahmadi Hamedani ²

Ali Mirshahi ¹

¹ Department of Clinical sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran.

² Department of Clinical sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Semnan, Semnan, Iran.

10.22075/jvlr.2026.41577.1231

Abstract

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is common in aged dogs, and systemic inflammation plays a key role in its pathogenesis. Platelet indices (PLT, PCT, MPV, PDW) and their derived ratios (MPV/PLT, MPV/PCT, MPV/PDW) are markers of platelet activation. This study investigated their changes in experimentally induced canine BPH and the therapeutic effects of finasteride and melatonin. Twenty‑three healthy male dogs were divided into five groups: BPH + finasteride, BPH + finasteride + melatonin, BPH positive control, melatonin alone (healthy), and negative control (healthy). BPH was induced by testosterone and estradiol injection over 63 days, followed by 28 days of treatment. Blood samples were collected at four time points and analyzed using non‑parametric tests. After induction, BPH groups showed a significant decrease in PCT and PLT and a significant increase in MPV and PDW; moreover, the MPV/PCT ratio increased significantly in all three induced groups. During treatment, MPV decreased in both the finasteride and finasteride + melatonin groups. Experimental induction of BPH was associated with significant alterations in platelet indices as well as the MPV/PLT and MPV/PCT ratios. Finasteride treatment partially attenuated these changes. Although changes in some parameters were also observed in the melatonin-treated group, these did not result in a statistically significant advantage over finasteride treatment alone.

Keywords

Benign prostatic hyperplasia

dog

platelet indices

finasteride

melatonin

Subjects