Uterus - Developmental Pathology

CONGENITAL ABNORMALITIES OF THE UTERUS

Defects of the female duct system occur in all species most common in cattle and pigs.

BILATERAL OR UNILATERAL AGENESIS: Bilateral agenesis is very rare and the animal is sterile. With unilateral agenesis the animal may show reduced litter size. Also associated with ipsilateral renal agenesis.

SEGMENTAL APLASIA OF UTERINE HORNS AND/OR UTERINE BODY: Degree and site of aplasia may vary causing:

• imperforate hymen-like condition.
• absence of parts of the uterus or whole uterine horn, bilateral or unilateral (uterus unicornis).

Cranial portions of tract may become cystic/filled with necrotic debris and secretions. Common in White Shorthorn breed of cattle - “White Heifer Disease” with a clinical history of infertility and objection to coitus.

ABERRANT FUSION OF THE DISTAL TRACT(uterine body and cervix):

• Complete failure of fusion leading to duplication of vagina and cervix and non-fusion of the body of the uterus, this is very rare but normal in marsupials.
• Failure of fusion of cervix and uterine body leading to duplication of the cervix and uterine body - uterus didelphys - this is normal in some marsupials, rodents and lagomorphs.
• Double cervix with a dorso ventral septum dividing the anterior vagina, this is more common and results in varying degrees of sterility as a result of failure to achieve normal coitus.

Information by permission of Professor RW Else