8. FEMALE REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM III AND MALE REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM

What is the most common reproductive neoplasia in small animals?

mammary neoplasia

What is the signalment that you will most commonly see mammary neoplasia associated with?

intact female dogs

T/F The risk of mammary neoplasia increases with age adn hormone exposure

True

When is the risk for mammary neoplasia the highest?

8-11 years OR during the first 2 estrus cycles

T/F If an animal is skinny at a young age, they are more likely to develop mammary tumors

False, if they are obese at a young age

How would you describe the behavior of mammary neoplasia in dogs?

50% benign and 50% malignant

T/F Majority of female dogs present with more than one tumor present

True

What happens to the likelyhood of malignancy as the tumors grow in size?

Increased risk of malignancy

If the mammary tumor does become malignant, where does it met to?

lymph nodes and lungs

How would you describe the behavior of mammary tumors in cats?

malignant and aggressive (adenocarcinoma)

There are over 30 types of neoplasia of the mammary tissue. What are they based on and what are some examples?

- based on cell types and pattens

- simple

-complex

-mixed

-ductal

- mesenchymal

What are the prognostic features of mammary neoplasia?

- lymph node metastasis

- lymphovascular invasion

- peripherial invasion

- histological phenotype

- histological grade

- tumor size

What is the histological grade based on?

- % of tubule formation

- nuclear pleomorphism

- mitotic count

What is an example of a Benign nodular mammary hyperplasia of female dogs?

Mammary gland hyperplasia

What is the most common non neoplastic mammary proliferation that is seen in felines?

Feline fibroadenomatous hyperplasia

What is the signalment of a queen with Feline fibroadenomatous hyperplasia?

◼Typically younger than 2 years

◼ One or more mammae may be affected

High concentrations of what hormone is associated with Feline Fibroadenomatous Hyperplasia?

progesterone or progestins

What are some incidences where a queen is more likely to get Non-neoplastic Mammary Proliferations?

Luteal phase of estrus, early in pregnancy, or after progestin therapy

How do you cure a queen of Feline Fibroadenomatous Hyperplasia?

Cured by ovariohysterectomy

How does the male reproductive system respond to injury?

- Very little functional reserve

- Little tolerance for inflammation, necrosis, fibrosis, etc

Spermatozoa are antigenic. How does this affect the response to injury?

Attract immune cells and nonspecifically bind immunoglobulin

Exposure of spermatozoa to the interstitium results in what?

severe inflammation mostly granulomatous

What are the THREE things that sperm granuloms are caused by?

◼ Disruption of seminiferous tubule or duct

◼ Spermiostasis

◼ Spermatocele

What cells are involved with the sperm granuloma formation?

Macrophages and MNGCs

Whenever Macrophages and MNGCs surronds the spermatozoa, what are the TWO things that happen following this process?

- Further surrounded by CD4+ T-lymphocytes and plasma cells

- Further surrounded by fibrosis +/- capsule

After all of the CD4 T lymphocytes and plasma cells come to the party, what does this cause to happen?

Causes further disruption of adjacent tubules/ducts

Which defense mechanism is better for the male reproductive system?

Innate immunity > adaptive immunity

What are the THREE parts of the innate immune system in the male?

- Physical

- Cellular responses

- Pattern recognition molecules

Where in the male reproductive tract is the adaptive immune system most important?

accessory sex glands and prepuce

T/F Once infection has made it to the epididymis it is too late for the adaptive immune system to make a difference

True

What part of the defense mechanism helps at the testis fight off infection?

inhibited by local immunosuppressive factors

Where is there no mucosal immune system in the male reproductive system?

epididymis or ductus deferens

What immunoglobulins does the prepuce produce to help with defense mechanisms?

IgG and IgA

What cells in the scrotum are resistant to injury?

sertoli cells

What cells are more sensitive to injury and why is this?

Germ cells

- Spermatogenic arrest

- Very sensitive to free radical injury (increase in temperature)

T/F If inflammation occurs in the scrotum, it is often is sustained and devastating

True

What is the defense mechanisms of the scrotum and contents?

- Hidden from external environment

- Continuous flow of fluid and narrow diameter of lumen

- Testicular and epididymal fluid has antibacterial properties

What does the continuous flow of fluid and narrow diameter of lumen protect against?

ascending infection

What are some characteristics of the epididymal fluid? (3)

◼ High chloride content

◼ Bovine seminal plasmin, lactoferrin, beta-defensins, CXCL6

◼ Cytokines

What is the immunoprivileged site site that suppresses inflammatory response and is form by the Sertoli cells, basement membrane of

seminiferous tubules and peritubular cells?

Blood-Testis Barrier

What THREE things make up the Blood-Testis Barrier?

◼ Sertoli cells

◼ Basement membrane of seminiferous tubules

◼ Peritubular cells

What is the main purpose of the blood testis barrier?

it is trying to prevent the sperm from being recognized by the body as foreign

What sex hormone promotes the BTB?

testosterone

What are the THREE response to injury when the accessory sex glands become injured?

- Injury is not common

- Fibrosis

- Loss of secretory ability

What are the FOUR defense mechanism that are seen with the accessory sex glands?

- Protected intrapelvic location

- Epithelial barrier

- Continuous flushing

- Inflammatory response

What are the FOUR responses to injury in the penis and prepuce?

- Epithelial hyperplasia and metaplasia

- Lymphoid hyperplasia

- Granulation tissue

- Fibrosis and scarring

What are the THREE defense mechanisms for the penis and prepuce?

- Prepuce shelters penis from most injuries

- Prepuce has full array of innate and local immune functions

- Normal preputial microflora

What ROI is sporadic in adults and more common in pubertal animals in the scrotum?

Ascending infection

What are the main sources of bacterial Ascending infection in pubertal animals? (2)

Actinobacillus seminis, Histophilus somni

What is the main pathogen that causes Hematogenous Localization in the scrotum?

Brucella spp

Where do ascending infections of the accessory sex glands retorgrade from?

prepuce

What are the specific pathogens that cause Hematogenous Localization in the accessory sex glands?

Brucella spp., Mycoplasma spp.

How does the penis and prepuce commonly get infected?

Direct penetration or blunt force trauma

When does the Direct penetration or blunt force trauma of the penis and prepuce usually happen?

extrusion: intromission or masturbation

What are FOUR general disorders of the scrotum?

- Developmental defects

- Trauma / frostbite

- Dermatitis

- Disturbances of growth

T/F The scrotal disorders are commonly seen in younger animals?

False, older animals

What are THREE pathogens that can cause scrotal dermatitis?

◼ Dermatophilus congolensis

◼ Besnoitia besnoiti

◼ Chorioptes bovis

What are some things that can disturb the growth of the scrotum?

◼ Papillomas, MCT, Hemangiosarcoma

◼ Vascular hamartomas

The vaginal tunic is an extension of what thus leading to disease like Polyserositis in pigs and FIP?

peritoneum

What are THREE pathogens that can cause inflammation in the scrotum?

◼ Trypanosomiasis

◼ Brucella spp.

◼ Actinobacillus seminis

What are TWO common neoplasias in the scrotum?

◼ Mesothelioma

◼ Peritoneal carcinomatosis

What parasite can be commonly seen in the scrotum

Cysticercus tenuicollis

What are FOUR things that can lead to Reduced Testicular and

Epididymal Size?

◼ Disorder of Sexual Development

◼ Cryptorchidism

◼ Previous castration

◼ Hypoplasia or atrophy

T/F When trying to see if an animal has been casterated you should look for testosterone dependent features - barbs on cat penis and size of canine prostate

True

What is it called when the testis does not increase to full size at puberty?

Hypoplasia

What disorder is Hypoplasia of the scrotum and testis most commonly associated with?

cryptorchidism

What are some other causes of the hypoplasia of the scrotum and contents ? (5)

- Poor nutrition

- Zinc deficiency

- Genetics

- Endocrine disturbances

- Infectious

What are some genetic conditions that would cause Scrotum and Contents Hypoplasia?

◼ Hereditary

◼ XXY - Klinefelter syndrome

How will scrotal hypoplasia look in size, consistency and histopath?

- Size - Small to near normal

- Consistency - Near normal

- Histopathology - Small tubules, lack of spermatogenic cells

T/F If the scrotum is small, the epididymis is often small as well

True

What is it called when the testes reduce in size after puberty?

atrophy

How does atrophy look microscopically?

Seminiferous tubule degeneration

What are some causes of atrophy in the male repro tract?

◼ Inflammation

◼ Temperature

◼ Vascular events

◼ Nutritional deficits

◼ Toxins

How will atrophy of the scrotum and contents look size wise, consistency and histopathology?

- Size - Small to near normal

- Consistency - Soft and bulging to firm with mineralization

- Histopathology - Small tubules, wavy basement membrane,

degenerating Sertoli cells, lack of spermatogenic cells

What is something that is likely to increase the size of the epididymis?

Spermatic granuloma

Where is this most likely to cause an enlargement?

Head of epididymis

Where does inflammation commonly occur in rams and dogs?

Tail of epididymis

How does inflammation of the Testis and Epididymis look grossly when actute and chronic disease has occurred?

Grossly may be swollen and soft (acute) or firm (chronic) (Fibrous adhesion)

How does inflammation of the Testis and Epididymis look microscopically?

neutrophilic to granulomatous inflammation ( which leads to sperm granulomas)

What type of inflammation is less common, but commonly secondary to epididymitis?

Orchitis

How does Orchitis look grossly?

Grossly may be diffuse or localized, soft to firm, enlarged

How does Orchitis look Microscopically?

have tubular or interstitial pattern (or both)

◼ Necrotizing

◼ Granulomatous

What is the most common testicular neoplasm in horse and 2nd most common in

dog?

Seminoma

How do Seminoma behave in the male reproductive tract?

benign

What is the equivalence of a Seminoma in the female reprotract?

Dysgerminoma

How does a Seminoma look grossly? (4)

- Homogenous

- White to pink-gray

- Soft to firm

- Bulges on cut section

How does a Seminoma look histologically?

- Sheets of large round cells with high nuclear to cytoplasmic ratio

- Many Mitoses

What Testicular Neoplasia is rare but is the most common young horse?

Teratoma

How does a Teratoma behave?

benign and well differentiated (can become malignant)

What is the gross appearance of a Teratoma?

spherical or ovoid and replaces all of the testis

What is the classic sign of a teratoma histologically?

disturbance of at least 2/3 embryotic germ layers

What is the most common common testicular neoplasm in dog, bull, and cat?

Leydig cell tumors

How do leydig cell tumors behave?

benign (sometimes hormonally active)

What is the equivalent of a Leydig cell tumor in females?

Luteoma

How does a leydig cell tumor look grossly?

- spherical and well demarcated

- tan to orange

- regions of hemorrhage

How does a leydig cell tumor look histologically?

- solid sheet or small packets

- large round to polygonal cells with abundant, finely vacuolated cytoplasm w lipofuscin pigment

- hemorrhage and necrosis

What is the 3rd most common testicular neoplasm in the dog?

Sertoli cell tumors

What is a common condition that is associated with sertoli cell tumors?

 cryptorchid testis

How do Sertoli cell tumors behave?

Usually benign (rare metastasis)

T/F ~1/2 of sertoli cell tumors produce hormones with a feminizing effect

False, 1/3