Male reproductive Pathology

Question 1

Intrascrotal disease causing a decrease in testicle size

Answer 1

cryptorchidism
Hypoplasia
Segmental aplasia
Testicular atrophy/degeneration

Question 2

Intrascrotal diseases causing increased testicle size

Answer 2

Cystic retained embryonic structures
Epididymitis
Inguinal hernia
Orchitis
Periorchitis
Scrotal lymphadenopathy
Spermatic granuloma of epididymal head
Testicular neoplasia
- seminoma
- Sertoli cell tumour
- interstitial cell tumour
Torsion
Varicoele

Question 3

Varicoele

Answer 3

A varicocele is a scrotal swelling consisting of a collection of dilated veins of the pampiniform plexus in the spermatic cord

Question 4

What is cryptorchidism

Answer 4

Incomplete descent of the testis
Retained between kidney, inguinal canal
likely polygenetic basis
Often hypoplastic
Increased risk of tumour formation

Question 5

Testicular hypoplasia

Answer 5

Causes:
Congenital/pre-puberty- Often not observed until after puberty
Nutrition, Zn deficiency, genetic, endocrine abnormalities

Mostly cattle, sheep, goats
Unilateral or bilateral
Hypoplastic- normal consistency
Microscopy: absent/ incomplete spermatogenesis with hypoplastic and normal tubules often intermingled

Question 6

testicular atrophy/ degenerations

Answer 6

• Degeneration of seminiferous tubercules
• After puberty
• Common cause for male infertility
  Causes: infections, ↑scrotal temperature, ↓testicular blood supply, vitamin A/ Zn deficiency, drug reactions, radiation damage, obstruction, hyperestrogenism
• Unilateral or bilateral
• Small – firm consistency (chronic)
  Microscopic: similar to hypoplasia, (+/- fibrosis, multinucleated spermatids )

Question 7

Epididymitis

Answer 7

Most common inflammation to see
* Important in rams (Brucella ovis – notifiable!) and dogs
* Almost always affects the tail of the epididymis (different from Spermatic granuloma of the epidydimal head))
* Can cause secondary testicular degeneration/atrophy
* Mostly ascending infection (accessory glands, urinary tract)
Rarer haematogenous (e.g. Brucella spp) or trauma

Question 8

Orchitis

Answer 8

Inflammation of testes
Very rare
Sometimes used to describe inflammation of scrotal contents when it is not true orchitis

Question 9

What is a seminoma

Answer 9

Germ cell tumour (also teratoma)
Almost always benign
* Derived from spermatogonia
* 2nd most common dog; most common in aged stallions
* Swelling and pain
* Gross: cream bulging mass
* Microscopy: polyhedral cells, large nucleus, a thin rim of cytoplasm
* Mitoses are frequent
More prevalent in retained(cryptorchid) testes

Question 10

Interstitial (leydig) cell

Answer 10

• 3rd most common male repro neoplasia
• 50% occur in retained testes
• Firm, white, lobulated mass.
• Testicular enlargement
• Colour: white to brown, fibrous, cysts.
• Microscopy: Sertoli cells multi-layered in tubules or invading interstitial tissue. Abundant fibrous tissue- distinguishes them from other tumours
  Around 1/3 secrete oestrogen (and/ or inhibin) > cause feminisation

Question 11

Sertoli cell tumour

Answer 11

Most common (dog, cat, bull)
Gross: single or multiple spherical tan to orange haemorrhagic (bulging on cut surface)
No enlargement of the testis
Microscopy: polyhedral cells packed in small groups by fine fibrous stroma
Some produce hormones

Question 12

prostate pathology

Answer 12

Mostly affecting dogs
Frequency:
* Hyperplasia> Inflammation (prostatitis) > Neoplasia
Other: cysts, squamous metaplasia

Question 13

Prostatic hyperplasia

Answer 13

• Old entire dogs
• Constipation / Urinary stasis
• Gross: bilaterally, symmetrically larger
• Microscopy: hyperplasia and papillary proliferation of the glandular tissue; stromal hyperplasia
• Castration causes atrophy
• Oestrogens act synergistically with androgens to potentiate hyperplasia of the epithelium

Question 14

Prostatitis

Answer 14

• When found in older dogs, often together with hyperplasia
• Mostly ascending bacterial infection
• Gross: asymmetrical enlargement; may contain abscesses
• Untreated cases can develop into peritonitis or septicaemia/ toxaemia
  Chronic cases may be subclinical

Question 15

prostatic carcinoma

Answer 15

• Older dogs
• Castration: neither prevention nor treatment
• Gross: asymmetrical mild enlargement
• Microscopy: haphazardly arranged glandular cells invading interstitium and marked fibrosis.
• Metastasis common (lymph node, lung, bone); prognosis guarded
• Clinical signs: constipation, urinary stasis, cachexia and locomotor abnormalities