Abstract
The laying hen (Gallus domesticus) is a robust animal model for epithelial ovarian cancer. The use of animal models is critical in identifying early disease markers and developing and testing chemotherapies. We describe the microscopic characteristics of the normally functioning laying hen ovary and proximal oviduct to establish baselines from which lesions associated with ovarian cancer can be more readily identified. Ovaries and oviducts were collected from 18-month-old laying hens (n = 18) and fixed in 10% neutral buffered formalin. Hematoxylin- and eosin-stained sections were examined by light microscopy. Both post-ovulatory follicular regression and atresia of small follicles produce remnant clusters of vacuolated cells with no histological evidence that scar tissue persists. Infiltrates of heterophils are associated with atresia of small follicles, a relationship not previously documented in laying hen ovaries. Because these tissues can be mistaken for cancerous lesions, we present a detailed histological description of remnant Wolffian tissues in the laying hen ovary. Immunohistochemical staining for pancytokeratin produced a positive response in ovarian surface epithelium and staining for vimentin produced a positive response in granulosa cells of follicles. Epithelial cells lining glands of the remnant epoöphoron had a positive response to both pancytokeratin and vimentin, a result also observed in women.
Highlights
IntroductionEpithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) occurs in the surface epithelium of ovaries of women
Epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) occurs in the surface epithelium of ovaries of women.Women with EOC have a lower relative five-year survival rate than women with other gynecological cancers [1] despite a similar incidence rate for those cancers [2]
We propose that heterophils are associated with atresia of small follicles in laying hens via phagocytosis
Summary
Epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) occurs in the surface epithelium of ovaries of women. Women with EOC have a lower relative five-year survival rate than women with other gynecological cancers [1] despite a similar incidence rate for those cancers [2]. The low survival rate for EOC is primarily associated with diagnosis late in the progression of the disease, often after it has metastasized to other organs [2]. There are few specific symptoms associated with early stages of the disease and little information is available on early expression and progression of EOC in women [3]. The laying hen (Gallus domesticus) is a robust animal model for epithelial ovarian cancer [3,4,5,6,7,8]
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