Male Reproductive pathology Flashcards
Examples of male reproductive pathology
Developmental abnormalities
Degeneration
Inflammation
Neoplasia
Cyptochidism
Incomplete descent of testis
Retained between kidney and inguinal canal
Often hypoplastic
More often unilateral
Increases risk of neoplasia in the future
Testicular hypoplasia
Decrease in number of testicular cells
Congenital/pre-puberty
* Often not observed until after puberty
Linked to:
○ Poor general nutrition
○ Zn def.
○ Genetic
○ Endocrine abnormalities
Unilateral or bilateral
Normal consistency
Microscopy - Absent/incomplete spermatogenesis due to smaller diameter or tubules
Lined only by Sertoli cells
Testicular atrophy/degeneration
Degeneration of seminiferous tubules
Occurs after puberty
Common cause for male infertility
Causes:
○ Infections
○ ↑scrotal temperature
○ ↓testicular blood supply
○ Vitamin A/ Zn deficiency
○ Drug reactions
○ Radiation damage
○ Obstruction
○ Hypoestrogenism
Firm consistency if chronic
Looks microscopically similar to hypoplasia (+/- fibrosis)
* Decreased germinal cells
* Vacuolated Sertoli cells
* Intratubular multunucleated spermatids
Testicular atrophy/degeneration
Degeneration of seminiferous tubules
Occurs after puberty
Common cause for male infertility
Causes:
○ Infections
○ ↑scrotal temperature
○ ↓testicular blood supply
○ Vitamin A/ Zn deficiency
○ Drug reactions
○ Radiation damage
○ Obstruction
○ Hypoestrogenism
Firm consistency if chronic
Looks microscopically similar to hypoplasia (+/- fibrosis)
* Decreased germinal cells
* Vacuolated Sertoli cells
* Intratubular multunucleated spermatids
Inflammation of testes/epididymis
Epididymitis is more common than orchitis
Epididymitis
- Important in rams and dogs
- Always affects TAIL of epididymis
- Can cause secondary testicular degeneration/atrophy
- Mostly ascending infection
Spermatic granuloma
- Occurs in epididymal head
Spermatic granuloma
- Occurs in epididymal head
Types of testicular neoplasia
- Seminoma
Germ cell tumour
Teratoma - Interstitial (Leydig) cell tumour
- Sertoli cell tumour
Seminomas
Derived from spermatogonia
Second most common dog neoplasia
Causes swelling and pain
More common in retained (cryptorchid) testes
Gross pathology of seminoma
Cream coloured bulging mass
Histopathology of seminoma
○ Polyhedral cells
○ Large nucleus
○ Thin rim of cytoplasm
Sertoli cell tumour
3rd most common in dogs - rare in other species
50% occur in retained testis
Causes testicular enlargement
1/3 serene oestrogen - causes feminisation
Gross pathology of Sertoli cell tumour
Firm, white, lobulated mass
Testicular enlargement
White to brown colour
Fibrous
Cyctic
Histopathology of Sertoli cell tumour
Sertoli cells multi-layered in tubes or invading interstitial tissue
abundant fibrous tissue
Interstitial (leydig) cell tumour
Most common neoplasm (dog, cat, bull)
No enlargement of testis
Some produce hormones
Gross pathology of interstitial (leydig) cell tumour
Single or multiple spherical tumour
Tan to orange to haemorrhagic
Histopathology of interstitial (leydig) cell tumour
Polyhedral cells packed in small groups by fine fibrous stroma
Prostatic disease
- Hyperplasia
- Inflammation
- Neoplasia
Prostatic hyperplasia
Most common prostatic disease
Enlargement due to increase of cells
Affects old entire dogs
Castration causes atrophy
Oestrogens act synergistically with androgens to potentiate hyperplasia of epithelium
CLinical signs of prostatic hyperplasia
Constipation/urinary stasis
Gross pathology of prostatic hyperplasia
Bilaterally and symmetrically enlarged
Histopathology of prostatic hyperplasia
○ Hyperplasia and papillary proliferation of glandular tissue
○ Stromal hyperplasia
Prostatitis
Inflammation of prostate
Found in older animals
Often in combination of hyperplasia
Mostly due to ascending bacterial infection
Can develop into peritonitis/septicaemia/toxaemia
Chronic cases can be sub clinical
Gross pathology of prostatitis
○ Asymmetrical enlargement
○ May contain abscesses
Prostatic Carcinoma
Malignant primary neoplasm of prostate
In older dogs
Castration will not prevent nor treat
Generally poor prognosis
Gross pathology of prostate carcinoma
○ Asymmetrical mild enlargement
○ Metastasis to lymph nodes, lung, bone etc
Clinical signs of prostatic carcinoma
○ Constipation
○ Urinary stasis
○ Cachexia
○ Locomotor abnormalities
Clinical signs of prostatic carcinoma
○ Constipation
○ Urinary stasis
○ Cachexia
○ Locomotor abnormalities
