Foster C01

Question 1

cells of the testis/ seminiferous tubules

Answer 1

Seminiferous tubule:
-Testicular sustentacular (Sertoli) cells
-Germ cells
>Spermatogonia
>Spermatocytes
>Spermatids

Interstitial endocrine cells

Question 2

why is the male tract a unique area immunologically?

Answer 2

Male tract is a unique area immunologically:
-Spermatozoa are ‘outside’ the body
-Blood testis barrier

-Spermatozoa are foreign

Question 3

what issues can arise due to the foreign nature of spermatozoa?

Answer 3

Spermatozoa are immunogenic:
-spermiostasis > opportunity for sperm to be attacked; inflammatory reaction
-spermatocele > pocket of sperm; can induce spermatic granuloma
-spermatic granuloma > kill sperm, block duct system

Question 4

if you see ‘pus’ on the testicle, what else might it actually be?

Answer 4

probably a spermatic granuloma

Question 5

best way to investigate diseases of the scrotum?

Answer 5

palpation

Question 6

if we see a dog with an enlarged scrotum, what structures should we think about?

Answer 6

consider anatomy and physiology:
-Scrotal skin
-Vaginal tunics
-Testis
-Epididymis (head, body, and tail; usually tail)
-Spermatic cord (cremaster muscle, deferent duct and pampiniform plexus)
-Inguinal ring and area
-Superficial inguinal (scrotal) lymph node.

Any enlargement of the scrotum or contents can result in swelling

Question 7

ancillary tests to investigate scrotal swelling

Answer 7

-urinalysis
-semen evaluation
-fine needle aspiration/impression smears
-incisional biopsy
-excisional biopsy

Question 8

when might we do an FNA on a testicle?

Answer 8

neoplasia, or when there is catastrophic damage anyways

Question 9

what other diseases can scrotal skin diseases be secondary to?

Answer 9

periorchitic/epididymitis

Question 10

what is swelling of the vaginal tunic called? what species get this and what can it be from?

Answer 10

Periorchitis
-All species gets this
-Often from epididymitis
-Can be from peritonitis

In cat, commonly caused by feline infectious peritonitis

Question 11

what is testicular hypoplasia? what will we see and what are possible causes?

Answer 11

-failure to reach normal at puberty
-systemic and/or local effect?
-has reduced tubular diameter, length, germ, and cell number

causes:
-hereditary
-disorders of sexual development:
>sex chromosome DSD: XXY cats, freemartin
>XX testicular DSD: dogs, goats
>XY testicular DSD: all species

Question 12

possible reasons for small testicles

Answer 12

-hypoplasia
-cryptorchidism
-atrophy/degeneration

Question 13

possible reasons for large testicles

Answer 13

-compensatory hypertrophy
-neoplasia
>sustentacular (sertoli) cell tumor
>interstitial cell tumor
>seminoma
-torsion

Question 14

what is cryptorchidism? what are possible causes?

Answer 14

XY testicular DSD

Reasons:
-genetic
-hormonal
-structural
-environmental (outbreaks)

> cause of small testis

Question 15

how can we tell if an animal is cryptorchid (vs neutered)? for cats, dog, and horse:

Answer 15

all species:
-serum hormone testing (testosterone, AMH, inhibin)

cat:
-penile spines (barba, papillae)
>will be present if intact

dog:
-palpate prostate
>if neutered before puberty will have no development

horse:
rectal palpation

Question 16

your dog is cryptorchid. why neuter?

Answer 16

adverse outcomes of cryptorchidism:
-torsion (can result in ‘acute abdomen’)
-neoplasia
-reduced fertility
-heritable trait

Question 17

what will we observe in testicular atrophy/degeneration?

Answer 17

atrophy is a gross term, degeneration is histology

-brown coloration
-mineralization
-fibrosis

> reason for small testes

Question 18

what kind of testicular neoplasias are common in a dog?

Answer 18

• sustentacular (Sertoli) cell tumor
• interstitial cell tumor
• seminoma

Question 19

what kind of testicular neoplasias are common in the horse?

Answer 19

• seminoma (old), teratoma (young)

Question 20

what will our DDX be in a case of large testis due to neoplasia?

Answer 20

DDX epididymitis

Question 21

what are the physical characteristics of a sustentacular (sertoli) cell tumor? what syndrome and symptoms can arise?

Answer 21

Is white and tough

Hyperestrogenism syndrome:
* Not all have inc. serum estrogen
>messes up the test/E2 ratio, affects inhibin release
* Feminisation
* Gynecomastia
* Alopecia
* Bone marrow suppression

Question 22

what are the physical characteristics of an interstitial cell tumor?

Answer 22

-tan with hemorrhage
-bulges

-testis can turn brown (from?)

Question 23

what are the physical characteristics of a seminoma, in a dog and in a horse?

Answer 23

Dog:
-white, bulges and is homogeneous

Horse:
-pale yellow, lobulated

Question 24

what is a major risk factor for testicular torsion? what animal gets it anyways?

Answer 24

-retained testis in all species
-common in stallions even without cryptorchidism

+sustentacular (sertoli) cell tumor

Question 25

how many ducts make up the epididymus and what is the total length?

Answer 25

one duct, meters long