Pathology of the Male Reproductive System Flashcards
What is cryptorchidism? What typically causes this?
incomplete descent of the testis and associated structures into the scrotum
(canine testicular descent is typically at 3 months)
higher intra-abdominal temperature causes hypoplasia and degeneration/atrophy, which causes lack of spermatogenes
Cryptorchid testicles are more likely to develop neoplasia. What neoplasias are common in dogs and stallions?
DOGS = Sertoli cell tumor, Seminoma
STALLIONS = Seminoma, Teratoma
Bilateral cryptorchidism:
unilateral Sertoli cell tumor
Sertoli cell tumor:
+ testicular torsion
What is testicular hypoplasia?
testes that have failed to grow to normal size, detected right after puberty
- congenital/genetic
- UNILATERAL or bilateral
What are the 2 most common causes of hypoplasia? What is the best known example?
- cryptorchidism
- endocrine disorder - reduced production of LH and FSH
Klinefelter’s syndrome (XXY) in tricolor male cats
Testicular hypoplasia, yearling ram:
- testes and epididymis are very small compared with normal-aged controls
- seminiferous tubules are lined only by Sertoli cells and there is no spermatogenesis
Tesitcular hypoplasia:
testicles/epididymis are small, but movable in the scrotum
- not apparent until after puberty
What is testicular degeneration and atrophy? What is it the most common cause of?
testes that reduce in size AFTER puberty
infertility
What 7 things is testicular degeneration/atrophy commonly secondary to?
1 epididymitis/scrotal diseases**
2. trauma
3. partial loss of blood flow
4. advancing age
5. chemotherapy
6. hormones
7. neoplasia
How does testicular degeneration/atrophy present? What is important to note in young, growing males?
testes is small and firm (fibrosis) and may be attached to the scrotal wall; epididymis tends to be more normal in size or even enlarges
distinction between degeneration and hypoplasia if difficult - they often present together because hypoplastic testes are prone to degeneration
Testicular degeneration/atrophy:
fibrosis!
How is testicular hypoplasia and degeneration/atrophy typically differentiated?
HYPOPLASIA = testicle is small and freely movable in the scrotum, epididymis is also small and poorly developed; irreversible
ATROPHY: testicle is small, firm, and may be attached to the scrotal wall, epididymis tends to be normal; regeneration possible
Why is true orchitis rare? What are the 4 portals of entry for orchitis?
usually associated with epididymitis
- HEMATOGENOUS = Brucella aborus in bulls; C. pseudotuberculosis and B. ovis in rams; B. suis in boars; B canis and Blastomyces dermatitidis in dogs
- DIRECT PENETRATION = bite wound, foreign body
- ASCENDING INFECTION** = E. coli, Proteus, Staph/Strep, Histophilus, Actinobacillus seminis
- PERITONEAL (periorchitis) - FIP in cats, peritonitis
Orchitis, Brucellosis:
When is it common in pigs for peritoneal spread to cause orchitis?
Glasser’s disease
What are the 2 most common types of epididymal disorders?
DEVELOPMENTAL: aplasia/hypoplasia, spermatic granuloma
INFLAMMATORY: infectious, non-infectious (spermatic granuloma)
In what species is segmental aplasia/hypoplasia in the epididymis most common? What 3 things does it typically lead to?
bulls —> involving the body and the tail (usually unilateral)
- back pressure and secondary testicular degeneration
- sperm impaction secondary to obstruction
- dilatation (spermatocele) and/or rupture
What is a spermatic granuloma? What are 3 causes?
epididymal rupture with extravasation of spermatozoae to the interstitium leading to a granulomatous response
- congenital = epididymal head due to blind-ended efferent ductules
- mechanical trauma = anywhere
- secondary to epididymitis = anywhere
Spermatic granuloma:
mass of spermatozoa in the interstitial CT of the epididymis is surrounded by macrophages and multinucleated giant cells
What are the noninfectious causes of epididymitis? Infectious?
NONINFECTIOUS = trauma, congenital and acquired obstructions with secondary sperm granuloma
INFECTIOUS:
- ascending bacterial infection from genitourinary tract: Actinobacillus seminis, H. somni in rams, E. coli, Proteus
- hematogenous: Brucella spp., B. ovis and B canis most common
Epididymitis, dog:
Epididymitis, Brucella ovis:
Necrotizing epididymitis and orchitis:
B. suis
In what species are testicular tumors most common? What are the 3 most common?
+++ dogs, + stallions, rare in other species
almost always benign - no indication of metastasis
1. Sertolic cell tumor
2. interstitial (Leydig) cell tumor
3. Seminoma, Teratoma (germ cells