Histology of ovary and testis

Question 1

Describe the histology of the fetal ovary

Answer 1

The fetal ovary is simple and immature.
Multiple primordial follicles can be seen: primary oocytes encapsulated by a single layer of flattened follicular cells.’

Question 2

Describe the histology of the adult reproductive female ovary

Answer 2

• primary as well as secondary follicles can be seen
• secondary follicles are larger and have cystic appearance

Question 3

Describe the histology of corpus luteum

Answer 3

The corpus luteum is composed of lutenised cells. They have abundant eosinophilic granular cytoplasm, central nucleus and prominent nucleoli (purple spot in nucleus).

Note that the corpus luteum appears yellow macroscopically, but appears pink due to steroid hormone production.

Granular cytoplasm also due to hormone production.

Question 4

Describe the histology of the post-menopausal ovary

Answer 4

Ovary atrophies post-menopause.
Marked by loss of follicles, only albicans remains.
Corpus albicans is pink and lobular, cerebriform.

Question 5

Describe the histology of the fetal testis

Answer 5

• poorly developed
• comprises radially arranged seminiferous tubules containing spermatogonia and sertoli cells
• no spermatogenesis occurs

Question 6

Describe the histology of testis at puberty

Answer 6

• back-to-back arranged semeniferous tubules with sprematids
• spermatogenesis occurs here
• tubules encased in thin fibrous layer

Note: Leydig stain pink, similar to corpus luteum, due to steroid-derived sex hormone production.

Question 7

Describe changes to histology of testis at 70 years

Answer 7

Four main changes:
- atrophy of seminiferous tubules: dead
- hyalinisation and uneven thickening of the basement membrane
- absent spermatogenesis
- Leydig cell hyperplasia (to fill spaces created by seminiferous tubule atrophy)