dodo1943 (imported) wrote: Fri Mar 01, 2013 2:27 am I was curious to know whether its effect on testis tissue was osmotic, i.e.the sudden withdrawal of water from cells, or toxic via pH change (to too acid or too alkaline for cell proteins to maintain their structure, thereby causing cell death). If it is the former, then concentrated brine (sodium chloride) should work just as well as alcohol or CaCl2 and would be less toxic to the rest of the body. If its effect was mediated by pH change then a dose which achieved a final intratesticular concentration of 10% after dilution by cell fluids may be most effective, or best of all as Brooke used, Ca Cl2 in alcohol with no added water. More later when I get hold of some needles. Dodo1943
Some of the papers linked early in the thread, have scientific explanations of the likely mechanisms. It does not seem that it does instant damage, rather it prevents cell regeneration and that (over time, since cells regularly regenerate) causes atrophy. It is a very slow process -- at least 60 days. I think that adding something like alcohol may help because it will cause some initial damage, so then the need for cell regeneration is accelerated. I'm not sure other salts work as well, because the long term effect of it seems to indicate that some of the CaCl remains in the testicles rather than simply being absorbed into the rest of the body.
Anyway, what I'm saying above is just a lay person's understanding. But it definitely seems different than a simple pH change (i.e. it is not like an acid that just goes in and does some immediate damage).
The 10% concentration is related to intravenous injections which are used in some medical conditions (usually low calcium conditions). I'm not sure it relates that closely to what we're doing here, except that it gives some idea that small quantities of higher dose that are diffused in the flesh are probably "safe" in terms of overall body safety (i.e. heart).
Pretty much anything weird injected into the testicles will castrate. Acids, glycerin, bases, salts, alcohols, etc. Sure, concentrated brines would work too. What we're looking for here is something that does it with a single shot (unlike any other chemical, CaCl seems to prevent regeneration), is effective (on animals it seems to be), not too painful (CaCl is not painless, but better than acids and overall better than repeated pain of multiple alcohol injections).
Furthermore, perhaps the best result is simply to create a situation (like with Brooke recently) where a doctor thinks they need to be removed surgically. You could probably inject other things that create lumps that would suffice for that.
