ABSTRACT
A transverse vaginal septum was found in 2% of a substrain of specific-pathogen-free Wistar rats used in reproductive toxicity studies. Macroscopic observation mostly revealed a complete transverse septum. In a few rats an incomplete septum with a small central pupillary gap was found. Microscopically the septum consisted of a central core of connective tissue covered on both sides by epithelium. The rats with vaginal defects were clinically healthy but were unable to breed because the vaginal septum hampered the progress of the spermatozoa. Cranial to the defect, the uterus, cervix, and cranial portion of the vagina were moderately to severely dilated and often filled with mucopurulent fluid and cellular debris. The presence of a transverse vaginal septum is rare in rats and can therefore be easily missed. Congenital, embryologic, and histologic aspects of this anomaly are discussed and compared with existing literature data.
Subject(s)
Rats, Wistar/abnormalities , Vagina/abnormalities , Animals , Female , Pregnancy , Prevalence , Rats , Specific Pathogen-Free OrganismsABSTRACT
A poorly performing nine-year-old thoroughbred mare was presented because of chronic weight loss. On rectal examination an abdominal mass was palpated and, on percussion of the right flank from the 11th to 13th intercostal space, a large area of dullness was delineated. Biopsies taken from the liver region and through the rectum revealed a malignant metastasising tumour of the urinary system. After euthanasia, the post mortem findings confirmed the presence of a papillary renal carcinoma with multiple metastases into the omentum and peritoneum.
