Cystic ovaries were found at necropsy in 54 of 71 (76%) female guinea pigs between 18 and 60 months of age. Histologic appearance and location of the cysts within the ovary were consistent with cystic rete ovarii. Microscopic appearance of the large ovarian cysts suggested reproductive performance in these guinea pigs should be compromised. Breeding records indicated that fertility was markedly reduced in affected females over fifteen months of age. Cystic endometrial hyperplasia, mucometra, endometritis in appropriate placental tissue, or fibroleiomyomas were seen in 21 of 54 (39%) guinea pigs with cystic ovaries, but in only one of 17 (6%) guinea pigs without cystic ovaries.
References
1.
ArchibaldLFSchultzRHFahningML:
Rete ovarii in heifers. A preliminary study.J Reprod Fertil26:
413–414,
1971
2.
BlackVHBogartBI:
Peroxisomes in inner adrenocortical cells of fetal and adult guinea pigs.J Cell Biol57:
345–358,
1973
3.
ByskovAG:
The anatomy and ultrastructure of the rete system in the fetal mouse ovary.Biol Reprod19:
720–735,
1978
4.
ByskovAG:
Does the rete ovarii act as a trigger for the onset of meiosis?Nature252:
396–397,
1974
5.
ByskovAG:
The role of the rete ovarii in meiosis and follicle formation in the cat, mink, and ferret.J Reprod Fertil45:
201–209,
1975
6.
ByskovAGLinten-MooreS:
Follicle formation in the immature mouse ovary: the role of the rete ovarii.J Anat116:
207–217,
1973
7.
de DuveCBaudhinP:
Peroxisomes (microbodies and related particles).Physiol Rev46:
323–357,
1966
GustafssonBK:
Testicular and ovarian pathology in swine.In:
Current Therapy in Theriogenology,
ed. MorrowDA,
pp. 1099–1103.
WB Saunders Co,
Philadelphia,
1980
10.
HadekR:
Morphological and histochemical study on the ovary of the sheep.Am J Vet Res19:
873–881,
1958
11.
JonesTCHuntRD:
The genital system.In:
Veterinary Pathology,
5th ed.,
pp. 1512–1515.
Lea and Febiger,
Philadelphia,
1983
12.
JulianCGGossJBlanchardK:
Biologic behavior of primary ovarian malignancy.Obstet Gynecol44:
873–884,
1974
13.
KingNW:
The reproductive tract.In:
Pathology of Laboratory Animals,
ed. BenirschkeKGarnerFMJonesTC,
pp. 524–526.
Springer-Verlag,
New York,
1978
14.
LangCMMungerBC:
Diabetes mellitus in the guinea pig.Diabetes25:
434–443,
1976
15.
LunaLG:
Manual of Histologic Staining Methods of the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology.
McGraw-Hill Book Co,
New York,
1968
16.
MerchantH:
Rat gonadal and ovarian organogenesis with and without germ cells. An ultrastructural study.Dev Biol44:
1–21,
1975
17.
NalbandovAV:
Anatomic and endocrine causes of sterility in female swine.Fertil Steril3:
100–119,
1952
NovikoffABNovikoffPMDaviesC:
Studies on microperoxisomes. V.Are microperoxisomes ubiquitous in mammalian cells? J Histochem Cytochem21:
737–755,
1973
20.
NovikoffABShinWY:
The endoplasmic reticulum in the Golgi zone and its relations to microbodies, Golgi apparatus and autophagic vacuoles in rat liver cells.J Microsc3:
187–206,
1964
21.
O'SheaJD:
Histochemical observation on mucin secretion by subsurface epithelial structures in the canine ovary.J Morphol120:
347–358,
1966
22.
PelusoJJEngland-CharlesworthC:
Formation of ovarian cysts in aged irregularly cycling rats.Biol Reprod24:
1183–1190,
1981
23.
PelusoJJStegerRWHuangJ:
Pattern of follicular growth and steroidogenesis in the ovary of aging cycling rats.Exp Aging Res5:
319–333,
1979
24.
QuattropaniSL:
Serous cysts of the aging guinea pig. I. Light microscopy and origin.Anat Rec188:
351–360,
1977
25.
SauramoH:
Development, occurrence, function and pathology of the rete ovarii.Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand33:
29–46,
1954
26.
SchoenbaumMKlopferU:
Cystic changes in the ovaries of guinea pigs.Refuah Vet26:
118–121,
1969
27.
SequinB:
Ovarian cysts in dairy cows.In:
Current Therapy in Theriogenology,
ed. MorrowDA,
pp. 199–204.
WB Saunders Co,
Philadelphia,
1980
28.
ShehataR:
Medullary tubes in the ovary of the camel and other mammals.Vet Rec76:
750–753,
1964
29.
TalbertGB:
Effect of aging of the ovaries and female gametes on reproductive capacity.In:
The Aging Reproductive System,
ed. SchneiderEL,
pp. 59–83.
Raven Press,
New York,
1978
30.
TanakaK:
Morphological study on the canine ovary.Jpn J Vet Res10:
80–81,
1962
31.
VaughanJT:
Surgery of the equine reproductive system.In:
Current Therapy in Theriogenology,
ed. MorrowDA,
pp. 783–824.
WB Saunders Co,
Philadelphia,
1980
32.
WilkersonWV:
The rete ovarii as a normal structure of the adult mammalian ovary.Anat Rec26:
75–78,
1923
33.
YoungWCDempseyEWMyersHI:
The ovarian condition and sexual behavior in the female guinea pig.Am J Anat63:
457–483,
1938
