Female Reproductive Microanatomy
Cat Ovaries:
Two regions- cortex & medulla – only cortex is visible here due to sectioning
Tunica Albuginea
Germinal Epithelium
Oocyte
Follicular cells
Primordial follicle- diagnostic feature is flattened follicular cells- shown above
Primordial follicle development is under the control of activin- NOT FSH
Secondary follicle- follicular cells become cuboidal in shape & lack of an antrum- subdivided into
unilaminar and multilaminar
Unilaminar follicle
(surrounding cells are stromal cells of the CT)
Multilaminar follicle
basal lamina
oocyte primordial zona pellucida
Secondary Follicle
antrum
cumulus oophorus
corona radiata
Fully mature follicles reach the surface of the ovary- none do so in this slide
Close-up of oocyte- blue ring is the zona pellucida composed of glycoproteins, surrounding this region is
the cellular corona radiata
Cells of the corona radiata are granulosar cells
Secondary follicles are under FSH control
Ovarian Medulla- diagnostic feature is arteries present
Cortex medulla
blood vessels
Tunica Albuginea
Antrum
Germinal Epithelium
Follicluar Cells
Capillary
Theca Interna
Theca Externa
Fimbrae
infundibulum
lumen of Fallopian Tube
Simple Columnar epithelium of the fallopian tube epithelium
2 cell types present here- ciliated & peg cells- very difficult to differentiate in this image
medulla
cortex
Corpus Luteum
Diagnostic of corpus luteum are the folds present in the tissue- due to the follicular cells
2 cell types present in a Corpus luteum
Granulosal luteal cells- large, foamy cells from granulosal layer (80%)- originally germinal epithelium
derived
Theca luteal cells- carried into the folds as they appear from the theca interna layer – secrete
progesterone- originally stromally derived
Granulosal luteal cells theca luteal cells
Corpus Albicans- atretic corpus luteum infiltrated with fibroblasts forming a scar
Note- if the epithelium is intact completely surrounding a space then it is probably a cyst and not a
corpus albicans
Fallopian Tube Cells:
Simple Columnar epithelium
Peg Cells
Ciliated cells
Uterus
Functionalis layer
Basalis layer
Proliferative phase uterus- long thin glands w/ lots of CT between is diagnostic
Coiled Helicine Arteries @ the base of the functionalis- diagnostic is a cluster of vessel lumens visible
near the base of functionalis layer
Straight capillaries are more difficult to find
Gland of the functionalis layer- notice the simple columnar epithelium lining the glands
Narrow lumen due to the proliferation phase
Endometrium in secretory phase- larger lumens, dilated glands filled with glycogen, etc. substances
Ragged cell borders will be seen due to constant secretion, also much less CT stroma between glands
Caused by progesterone- causes secretion to occur (luteal phase)
AKA progravida phase
Proliferation/growth in proliferative phase is induced by estrogen secreted by the theca interna of the
developing follicle
Ovulation- LH Surge @ the end of the proliferative phase, caused by buildup of estrogen
Estrogen is under negative feedback inhibition control via the pituitary (FSH secretion drops)
Menstrual phase endometrium- most functionalis is gone
Caused by smooth muscle cells of coiled arteries- loss of progesterone causes then to constrict, ischemia
causes degeneration of vessels and eventually the sloughing occurs
Cervix:
Branched glandular ducts are diagnostic
Strat. Squamous epithelium endocervical canal
simple cuboidal epithelium
Vaginal-cervical junction- transition pt from simple columnar to stratified squamous epithelium- weak
point prone to chronic infection and subsequently cancer
Important point for collection of pap smears
Vagina- histological look alike to lower esophagus- epithelium both stratified squamous non-keratinized
w/ few glands in esophagus and almost none in vagina
MUST look at muscularis- esophagus is layered, vagina is mixed bundles
Mammary Tissue
Fatty Inactive tissue
Glandular active tissue