Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Canvetj00317 0015
Canvetj00317 0015
net/publication/22571186
Article in The Canadian veterinary journal. La revue veterinaire canadienne · May 1979
Source: PubMed
CITATIONS READS
66 5,191
3 authors, including:
John H Lumsden
University of Guelph
134 PUBLICATIONS 4,427 CITATIONS
SEE PROFILE
All content following this page was uploaded by John H Lumsden on 21 December 2014.
96
TABLE I
DIMENSIONS OF FELINE VAGINAL EPITHELIAL CELLS (MICRONS)
Cytoplasm Nuclei
Cell Type length width length width N/C Ratio
Superficial 68.5 (l0.5)a 41.8 (11.9) 7.9 (1.2) 5.6 (1.5) 0.02
Intermediate 44.7 ( 8.9) 37.5 ( 7.7) 10.0 (2.1)b 0.06
Parabasal 18.6 ( 2.8)b 8.3 (1.7)b 0.20
aBrackets enclose one s.d. of mean
bNuclei round, single dimension given
97
TABLE II
THE MEANS AND RANGES OF PERCENTAGES OF PARABASAL, INTERMEDIATE SUPERFICIAL FELINE VAGINAL EPITHELIAL
CELLS. AND NEUTROPHILS. IN STAGES OF THE ESTRUS CYCLE
Neutrophils
Nucleated Anucleated per 100
No. of Parabasal Intermediate Superficial Superficial Epithelial
Cycle Stage Smears Cells Cells Cells Cells Cells
Estrus
Mean 20 0.3 11.6 63.6 24.5 4.7 d
Range 0-3 0-25 5-90 3-95 0-10
Early Metestrus a
Mean 8 8.9 75.7 13.2 1.9 32
Range 0-29 50-100 0-41 0-3 1-78
Late Metestrus
Mean 8 48 50 2 0 32
Range 10-85 10-85 0-5 0 0-97
A nestrus
Mean 34 9.7 87.4 2.7 0.2 3
Range 0-50 50-100 0-22 0-2 0-50
Proestrusc
Mean 4 17.8 60.3 19.6 2.2 8e
Range 0-34 57-67 6-40 0-6 0-33
aTwo days postestrus
"Four to nine days postestrus at time of maximum parabasal cells
'Two days before estrus
dNeutrophils only in estrus in three cats which also had bacteria on vaginal smears
'Neutrophils only in proestrus in one cat which also had bacteria on vaginal smears
averaged 88% in the eight estrus periods observed increased to a mean peak of 48% (max. 85%), and
and the mean percentage of parabasal to inter- the El dropped to 10%. The mean MI in eight
mediate to superficial epithelial cells (MI) in 20 smears in late metestrus was 48:50:2 (Table II).
smears of cats in estrus was 0:12:88 (Table II). Smears at this stage often contained debris, neu-
Anucleate superficial cells were only seen in estrus trophils and occasionally foam cells (Figure 4).
and their numbers dropped off sharply to zero at Neutrophils appeared after the last day of estrus in
postestrus in the three cats which returned to estrus seven of the eight estrus periods studied. The
during the study. highest proportions of neutrophils occurred at two
The behavioural estrus scores were variable to eight days after the last day of estrus.
from period to period, and cytological changes Vaginal smears obtained from the two cats in
were found to be more reliable. Of these cyto- anestrus tended to be poorly cellular, compared to
logical changes, the MI was the most sharply estrus smears, and had predominately medium-
defined, followed by the KPI and the EI. At the sized intermediate cells usually grouped together,
peak of behavioural estrus, the KPI and El were 90 and with a few parabasal cells. The mean MI of 34
to 100% in most of the cats. The El varied from 40 smears of the cats in anestrus was 10:87:3 (Table
to 100% throughout estrus. Cytoplasmic eosino- II). Two cats were behaviourally and cytologically
philia tended to precede by several days, the classified as being in anestrus throughout the
changes in the KPI in early estrus, and the sampling period.
eosinophilia persisted for two to four days longer The smears obtained in proestrus were charac-
than nuclear pyknosis following estrus. The dura- terized by high proportions of medium to large
tion of the eight estrus periods observed was two to intermediate cells and a few nucleated superficial
five days. cells, with very little debris. The mean MI of four
During early netestrus (postestrus) the smears smears obtained at proestrus was 18:60:22 (Table
contained mainly intermediate epithelial cells and II). Neutrophils were rare in these smears.
a low number of superficial cells. Cells in early Erythrocytes were rarely seen and occurred only
metestrus were moderately basophilic on Wright's with vaginal discharges in two cats which subse-
stain, and had irregular contours with mildly quently had bacterial growth on culture. Moderate
pyknotic nuclei and cytoplasmic eosinophilia. The growths of hemolytic and nonhemolytic Staphylo-
mean MI in eight smears of five cats in early cocci were cultured from the two cats, (P4 and P7)
metestrus at two days postestrus was 9:76:15 which also showed bacteria on vaginal smears
(Table II). Within four to nine days (average 6.4 during the study. The other five cats had no
days) after estrus, the presence of parabasal cells significant bacterial growth.
98
D I S C U S S IO N
The results from this preliminary study indicated
that the sequential estimation of the MI in vaginal
smears can be used in determining the phases of the
estrus cycle in the cat. Deviations from the normal
cyclic patterns of exfoliated cells may help to
indicate underlying reproductive problems such as
hormonal insufficiency or inflammation. Serum
reproductive hormone levels were not assayed in
this study but should be determined in future
studies in correlation with vaginal cytology. It has
been previously shown that vaginal cytology in the
cat reflects behavioural estrus (3), and this appear-
ed to be so in the present study.
The use of saline-moistened glass rods for
sample collection was atraumatic, preserved cell
integrity, and yielded more cells than moistened
cotton swabs used in a pilot study. The MI was
determined on Wright's stained smears, and this
stain appeared to provide adequate cytological
information for practical purposes. The Papan-
icolaou stained smears gave equivalent informa-
tion on the MI and allowed comparison with
findings in women. In contrast, the El determined
with Papanicolaou stain gave equivocal results
since some parabasal and small intermediate
epithelial cells had a degree of eosinophilia. The El
FIGURE 4. Neutrophils in metestrus with intermediate obtained, however, roughly paralleled behavioural
and parabasal vaginal epithelial cells. Several foam cells and cellular estrus. Variations in the Papanicolaou
are present on the left. Wright's stain. Top X330, bottom stain reaction were related to cell thickness, stain
X820. penetration, and to premature drying of the
The cycle lengths were 15, 17 and 17 days in three preparations before alcohol fixation. Strasser et al
cats, while behavioural estrus did not reappear in (10) also found variations with the Papanicolaou
two other cats during the 32-day study. Both of stain in evaluating El in feline vaginal smears.
these cats showed more irregular cellular yields, The Schorr Trichrome stain was tried in a pilot
with a mild persistence of anucleate superficial study but was found to be unreliable for EI in our
cells following estrus. In addition, both cats had hands. Eosinophilic Index is related to intra-
bacterial growth on culture. An example of the cellular factors and not to cell maturity ( 1). The
use of El in cytohormonal evaluation in women
cyclical cell yield from one cat (P1) which showed has largely been abandoned in favour of the MI
two estrus periods is given in Figure 5. The cellular which can be done with any stain, but usually with
yields from a cat (P5) in anestrus. and from a cat Papanicolaou (12). The principle of the MI
(P7) with one estrus period and vaginal bacteria on determination is related to nuclear and cyto-
culture, are shown in Figures 6 and 7 respectively.
THIN BAR - NEUTROPHILS PER 100 EPITHELIAL CELLS. THICK BAR - VAGINAL EPITHELIAL CELLS. (ON LEFT AXIS)
P1
ESTRUS
BEHAVIOUR 4 55 0 0 1 3 3 3 2 3 5 2
4 0 0o
ANUCLEATED 100
SUPERFICIAL
NUCLEATED Notutrophils
SUPERFICIAL per 100
Epiethelial
INTERMEDIATE Ce' uIs
PARABASAL
I
I
I II, Il
lo
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 1. 20 22 24 26 28 30 32
TIME IN DAYS
FIGURE 5. The cyclical changes of exfoliated vaginal epithelial cell types in one cat (P1), which showed two periods of
clinical estrus.
99
THIN BAR -
NEUTROPHILS PER 100 EPITHELIAL CELLS. THICK BAR - VAGINAL EPITHELIAL CELLS. (ON LEFT AXIS)
P5
ESTRUS
BEHAVIOUR 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 00 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
ANUCLEATED 100
SUPERFICIAL
NUCLEATED Neutrophils
SUPERFICIAL per 100
Epithelial
INTERMEDIATE Cells
PARABASAL i1111 w *
14
I
16 18 20 22 24 26 2 . 0
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 1,6 I'S 20 22 24 26 28 30 32
TIME IN DAYS
FIGURE 6. The cyclical changes of exfoliated vaginal epithelial cell types in one cat (P5) in anestrus throughout the study.
THIN BAR - NEUTROPHILS PER 100 EPITHELIAL CELLS. THICK BAR - VAGINAL EPITHELIAL CELLS. (ON LEFT AXIS)
P7
ESTRUS
BEHAVIOUR 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 2 3 2 1 1 1 2
MJCLEAED 100
SUPERIFICAL
IUCLEATED --A I Neutrophils
SUPERFICIAL per 100
Epithelial
I NTEMEDIATE Cells
PARABASAL I~~~~~~~~~I 0
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 21 26 28 30 32
ITIME IN DAYS
FIGURE 7. The cyclical changes of exfoliated vaginal epithelial cell types in one cat (P7) which had one estrus period and
hemolytic and nonhemolytic staphylococci on vaginal culture.
plasmic maturation of the epithelial cells as a stimulated ovulation. Scott and Lloyd-Jacob (7)
function of their size and thickness. These mor- found, however, that less than two consecutive
phological characteristics can be demonstrated by matings were insufficient to result in ovulation and
any stain which gives good nuclear and cyto- pregnancy. Estrus cycles in the unbred cat are
plasmic differentiation. Since blood stains are in therefore anovular and corpora lutea are not
more general use than cytological stains, the formed (9). As true metestrus with progesterone
determination of MI by this method is most release may not always occur, it is felt that the
practical. The MI is based on the maturation of the period following anovular estrus in the unmated
cells and thus the tissue. On the other hand, the cat may be more appropriately termed postestrus.
KPI is more restricted to nuclear maturation and is Serum progesterone levels could not be mea-
less informative than the MI. sured in this study to confirm hormonal status, so
The degree of folding of cytoplasmic margins it was not possible to differentiate ovular from
observed in these cats in estrus, is referred to as the anovular estrus. The effect of estrogen on vaginal
Folded Cell Index in women by Wied (12), and is epithelium can be readily assessed and reflects
indicative of squamous cell maturation. ovarian activity (8), while the influence of pro-
The cycle lengths of 15 and 17 days in these cats, gesterone is less lucid. The daylight period of 10.5
are consistent with the findings of previous hours in the present experiment was out of our
workers (4, 7). It is interesting that the two cats control and may also have affected hormonal
which failed to show a recurrence of estrus within release.
30 days, also had vaginal bacteria on culture. It is interesting that only the cats which cycled
Ovulation in the cat depends on the neuro- showed high proportions of parabasal cells, usu-
hormonal stimulation threshold and has been ally following behavioural estrus and after the
induced by repeated vaginal stimulation using a exfoliation of mature superficial epithelial cells.
glass rod (1). It is possible that the collection On the other hand, cats in anestrus consistently
technique used in the present study may have exfoliated intermediate epithelial cells with only
100
rare parabasal cells. The irregular shedding of low REFERENCES
numbers of superficial epithelial cells in cat P7 for 1. GREULICH, W.W. Artificially induced ovulations in the
12 days following estrus may be associated with the cat (Felis domestica). Anat. Rec. 58: 217-223. 1934.
finding of bacteria on vaginal smears at that time, 2. LICHE. H. and K. WODZICKI. Vaginal smears and the
or could suggest irregular hormone balance. The oestrous cycle of the cat and lioness. Nature, Lond.
presence of bacterial vaginitis in women will cause 144: 245-246. 1939.
apparent epithelial cell eosinophilia and matura- 3. MICHAEL, R.P. and P.P. scorr. The activation of
tion (I 1). sexual behaviour in cats by the subcutaneous ad-
Neutrophil numbers and neutrophil inclusions ministration of oestrogen. J. Physiol. 171: 254-
in epithelial cells were not found to the same extent 274. 1964.
as in dogs in the early luteal phase (6), but the 4. MOWRER. R.T.. P.A. CONTI and C.F. ROSSOW. Vaginal
presence of neutrophils may be related to the cytology: An approach to improvement of cat breed-
hormone status and may be a difference between ing. Vet. Med. small Anim. Clin. 70: 691-696.
ovular and anovular estrus. Foam cells were 1975.
occasionally seen in postestrus in this study. Feline 5. ROSZEL. J.F. Genital cytology of the bitch. Scope
vaginal cytology differs from the bitch in lacking XIX: 3-15. 1975.
erythrocytes, and it is interesting that the cats 6. SCHUTTE. A.P. Canine vaginal cytology. J. small
which did show erythrocytes in their vaginal Anim. Pract. 8: 301-317. 1967.
smears also had bacterial growth on culture. 7. scoTT. P.P. and M.A. LLOYD-JACOB. Studies on
The MI is a useful index in reproductive Fertility. Volume VII. pp. 123-129. R.G. Harrison,
cytology, and is independent of stain variation and Editor. Oxford: Blackwell Scientific Publications.
is therefore a more reliable criteria than El or KPI 1955.
for cytohormonal evaluation. We anticipate that 8 SCOTT. P.P. The Cat. (Chap. 3). UFAW Handbook
vaginal cytology and cyclical patterns of cells on the Care and Management of Laboratory Ani-
exfoliated will be increasingly used in clinical mals. 3rd Edition. New York: Animal Welfare
situations of reproductive abnormalities in the cat Institute. 1967.
and will be most effective with serial sampling. 9. scoTr. P.P. Cats (Chap. 10). Reproduction and
Breeding Techniques on Laboratory Animals. pp.
A C K N OW L E D G M E N T S 192-208. E.S.E. Hafez, Editor. Philadelphia: Lea &
Febiger. 1970.
Thanks are due to Dr. B.J. McSherry, Depart- 10. STRASSER, VON H.. R. BRUNK and C. BAEDER. Unter-
ment of Pathology and to staff of the Clinical suchungen zum Sexualyklus der Katze. Berl. Munch.
Pathology section for excellent technical assis- tieirrztl. Wschr. 84: 253-254. 1971.
tance. The keen interest and advice from Dr. 11. WIED, G.L. (Editor). The Symposia of the Inter-
W.T.K Bosu and Dr. R.C. Povey, Department of national Academy of Gynecological Cytology. Acta
Clinical Studies is gratefully acknowledged. We Cytol. 2. No. 1. 1958.
are indebted to Dr. R.W. Gatehouse, Department 12. WIED, G.L. (Moderator). Symposium on Hormonal
of Psychology for the use of his cats. Cytology. Acta Cytol. 12. No. 2. pp. 87-127. 1968.