Foster C01 Flashcards
cells of the testis/ seminiferous tubules
Seminiferous tubule:
-Testicular sustentacular (Sertoli) cells
-Germ cells
>Spermatogonia
>Spermatocytes
>Spermatids
Interstitial endocrine cells
why is the male tract a unique area immunologically?
Male tract is a unique area immunologically:
-Spermatozoa are ‘outside’ the body
-Blood testis barrier
-Spermatozoa are foreign
what issues can arise due to the foreign nature of spermatozoa?
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
if you see ‘pus’ on the testicle, what else might it actually be?
probably a spermatic granuloma
best way to investigate diseases of the scrotum?
palpation
if we see a dog with an enlarged scrotum, what structures should we think about?
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
ancillary tests to investigate scrotal swelling
-urinalysis
-semen evaluation
-fine needle aspiration/impression smears
-incisional biopsy
-excisional biopsy
when might we do an FNA on a testicle?
neoplasia, or when there is catastrophic damage anyways
what other diseases can scrotal skin diseases be secondary to?
periorchitic/epididymitis
what is swelling of the vaginal tunic called? what species get this and what can it be from?
Periorchitis
-All species gets this
-Often from epididymitis
-Can be from peritonitis
In cat, commonly caused by feline infectious peritonitis
what is testicular hypoplasia? what will we see and what are possible causes?
-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
possible reasons for small testicles
-hypoplasia
-cryptorchidism
-atrophy/degeneration
possible reasons for large testicles
-compensatory hypertrophy
-neoplasia
>sustentacular (sertoli) cell tumor
>interstitial cell tumor
>seminoma
-torsion
what is cryptorchidism? what are possible causes?
XY testicular DSD
Reasons:
-genetic
-hormonal
-structural
-environmental (outbreaks)
> cause of small testis
how can we tell if an animal is cryptorchid (vs neutered)? for cats, dog, and horse:
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
your dog is cryptorchid. why neuter?
adverse outcomes of cryptorchidism:
-torsion (can result in ‘acute abdomen’)
-neoplasia
-reduced fertility
-heritable trait
what will we observe in testicular atrophy/degeneration?
atrophy is a gross term, degeneration is histology
-brown coloration
-mineralization
-fibrosis
> reason for small testes
what kind of testicular neoplasias are common in a dog?
- sustentacular (Sertoli) cell tumor
- interstitial cell tumor
- seminoma
what kind of testicular neoplasias are common in the horse?
- seminoma (old), teratoma (young)
what will our DDX be in a case of large testis due to neoplasia?
DDX epididymitis
what are the physical characteristics of a sustentacular (sertoli) cell tumor? what syndrome and symptoms can arise?
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
what are the physical characteristics of an interstitial cell tumor?
-tan with hemorrhage
-bulges
-testis can turn brown (from?)
what are the physical characteristics of a seminoma, in a dog and in a horse?
Dog:
-white, bulges and is homogeneous
Horse:
-pale yellow, lobulated
what is a major risk factor for testicular torsion? what animal gets it anyways?
-retained testis in all species
-common in stallions even without cryptorchidism
+sustentacular (sertoli) cell tumor
how many ducts make up the epididymus and what is the total length?
one duct, meters long
