Reproductive pathology in the Female

Question 1

3 phases of normal sexual development pre-birth

Answer 1

1. Establishment of the sex chromosomes at fertilisation- XX or XY.
2. Modelling of embryonic gonadal tissue
3. Establishment of genital phenotype- Controlled, programmed regression and growth of different parts of the indifferent tubular and external genital tissues (female or male phenotype)

Question 2

What gender is XX

Answer 2

female
Male=XY

Question 3

What is the testes determining gene

Answer 3

SRY
Sex determining region on Y chromosome

Question 4

What is a karotype

Answer 4

the number and visual appearance of the chromosomes in the cell nuclei of an organism or species.

Question 5

what is chimerism

Answer 5

An organism whose cells are derived from 2 or more zygotes.
Most commonly seen as bovine Freemartinism= genetic female born co-twin with a male, the male foetus sterilises the female by testis-determining factors carried by the blood stream via the placental anastomoses.

Question 6

What is a true hermaphrodite

Answer 6

• The karyotype is more often XX.
• Histological evidence of ovarian and testicular tissue (E.g. ovotestis).
  Ambiguity of external or internal genitalia or both.

Question 7

What is a male pseudohermaphrodite

Answer 7

• The karyotype is XY, gonads are recognisable as testes
• Incompletely masculinised and ambiguous external and internal genitalia or both

Question 8

Female pseudohermaphrodite

Answer 8

• The karyotype is XX
• Feminine (ambiguous in a few cases) internal genitalia, masculinised external genitalia

Question 9

What is ovotestes

Answer 9

presence of ovarian and testicular tissue

Question 10

What is an ovarian cyst

Answer 10

follicular cysts and luteinized cysts, cystic rete ovarii, cysts of the subsurface epithelial structures (SES).

Question 11

para ovarian cysts

Answer 11

cystic epoophoron or paroophoron (cysts of mesonephric tubules), hydatids of Morgagni (cysts of paramesonephric ducts), cyst of mesonephric duct.

Question 12

What is a sex chord stromal tumour
gross and histopathology

Answer 12

• Granulosa cell tumours, thecoma or luteoma….propensity to be hormonally active.
• The granulosa cell tumour is the most common tumour in this group. They are usually non-malignant tumours in any species.
• Gross: These frequently are large tumours that are either multinodular or symmetrical, uni‐ or bilateral, and they include both solid and cystic areas, with or without scattered areas of haemorrhagic necrosis.
• Histopathology: A variety of patterns may occur in different areas: solid sheets, islands, cords, trabeculae, nests. Sometimes presence of Call Exner bodies.

Question 13

2 congenital lesions of the uterus

Answer 13

Segmental aplasia
Mesonephric cysts

Question 14

Inflammatory disorders of the uterus

Answer 14

• Result of ascending infection when the cervix is open, at oestrus, parturition or during the postpartum period
• Uterine resistance varied during the oestrus cycle, susceptibility being greatest during the luteal phase of the cycle
• Haematogenous infections are less common and are usually involved in some microbial/viral disorders, and they usually occur during pregnancy and can cause abortion
• Endometritis= Inflammation limited in extent to the endometrium
• Metritis= Involvement of entire thickness of wall
  Pyometra= Acute or chronic suppurative infection of the uterus with accumulation of pus in the uterine lumen

Question 15

2 types of uterine neoplasia seen

Answer 15

smooth muscle tumours (leiomyoma)
Endometrial carcinoma in the cow

Question 16

Neoplasma of external genitalia

Answer 16

Smooth muscle tumours (leiomyoma)
canine transmissible venereal tumour
Squamous cell carcinoma
Fibropapilloma of the vulva in cattle

Question 17

Pathogens causing Bovine mastitis

Answer 17

• Due to ascending infection of the gland and bacteria are the most common pathogen
• Streptococcus agalactiae and some types of Staphylococcus aureus are obligate parasites of the gland and inevitable pathogens, but the great majority of infections are opportunistic (E. coli, Enterobacter, Klebsiella, Citrobacter, Serratia).
• Other pathogens are: Mycoplasma bovis, Nocardia spp., Mycobacterium bovis, fungi and algae (Prototheca zopfii).

Question 18

pathogens causing ewe and goat mastitis

Answer 18

• Usually caused by S. aureus, Mannheimia haemolytica, Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis, T pyogenes, Mycoplasma agalactiae.
• The Maedi Visna virus can cause mononuclear interstitial mastitis in the ewe.

Question 19

Benign mammary tumours

Answer 19

• Dog: Represent more than half of mammary masses, often they have an epithelial (adenoma) and mixed myoepithelial/mesenchymal component.
• They have a histologically benign appearance, including lack of invasion, minimal anisokaryosis/pleomorphism, and a low mitotic index.

Question 20

Mammary carcinomas

Answer 20

• Dog: large number of types and subtypes, wide heterogeneity; the grading takes into account differentiation, tubule formation, nuclear pleomorphism, mitoses per 10 HPF.
  The anaplasia, the high nuclear grade and mitotic rate are negative prognostic factors, as well as the stromal invasion and the presence of neoplastic emboli.
• Cat: About 75-90% are intermediate or high grade carcinomas, simple and much less heterogeneous (types: tubulopapillary, solid, or cribriform carcinomas).

Question 21

What is SES

Answer 21

Surface Epithelial Structures
The modified peritoneal cells covering the surface of
the ovary of the bitch normally extend into the ovary
a short distance where they are arranged as small
single epithelial-lined cavities

Question 22

what do theca cells do

Answer 22

produce androgens e.g. testosterone
also involved in the growth and development of ovarian follicles, the release of the egg during ovulation, and the formation of the corpus luteum

Question 23

What do granulosa cells do

Answer 23

secrete oestrogens