Proximal Vagina Research Articles

Sperm Transport from the External Cervical Os to the Fallopian Tubes in Women: A Time and Quantitation Study

Sperm transport was characterized on optimal, controlled, assessable conditions in this study. Subjects were women who had requested surgical sterilization. All subjects were restricted from coitus for 11-14 days preoperatively. The study was performed within 36 hours of the estradiol preovulatory peak for each subject; so surgical excision of both fallopian tubes was accomplished at predetermined times after insemination with fresh, whole, high-quality ejaculates; the cervical mucus column was also removed. Using this technique, sperms were identified in the oviduct within 5 minutes from deposition in the proximal vagina. Numbers of sperm in the oviduct were directly related to numbers inseminated. Sperm distribution was throughout the oviduct and was highest in fimbria (tubes had been divided in thirds upon excision). For 15-45 minutes after insemination, a constant level of sperm existed in the oviduct. 1 subject was studied similarly to determine the presence of sperm in endometrium, and no sperm occurred in that cavity until 80 minutes after insemination. This study also reports the total numbers of sperm present in cervical mucus and the correlation of insemination and time after insemination.

Pull-through operation for radiation-induced rectovaginal fistula: report of a case.

A patient in whom a large radiation-induced rectovaginal fistula was successfully repaired by a pull-through operation is described. Normal bowel and vaginal function were restored. If repair of a rectovaginal fistula is indicated, and the fistula is large and located in the proximal vagina, the abdominal endorectal operation should be considered.

Granular Venereal Disease in a White-Tailed Deer

Granular venereal disease (GVD) of cattle (infectious or nodular vaginitis) is a condition affecting the mucosa of the vagina and vulva or the prepuce and penis (Williams, 1939:329-338). It is common in heifers and exists in practically every dairy herd (Roberts, 1956:321-323). Lesions are small reddish nodules or papules up to 2 mm. in diameter. These nodules are compact round-cell foci surrounded by a diffuse round-cell infiltration; they are situated in the derma (Thoms, 1906). Among domestic animals, the disease is found in cattle, goats, sheep, and swine (Williams, op. cit.). This article reports the disease in a feral white-tailed deer, Odocoileus virginianus ssp. The specimen was a 135-lb. female secured in New London County, Connecticut, on November 19, 1955. The animal was considered to be 20 months old, according to the Severinghaus (1949) technique. The reproductive tract was removed in the field and included the ovaries, fallopian tubes, uterus, cervix, and a portion of the vagina. Representative tissues were fixed in 10 per cent Formalin, embedded in paraffin, and stained by hematoxylin-eosin. Gross examination of the reproductive tract revealed a nongravid uterus. Both ovaries contained varied-sized corpora lutea and follicles. Histologic examination of the ovaries confirmed the gross observations and revealed that the corpora lutea were recent, while the follicles were developing, so that some were actually Graafian follicles. Of passing interest was a primary follicle, the ovum of which contained a well-developed nucleus and a degenerating nucleus or polar body. The pathognomonic lesions were found in the mucosa of the proximal vagina. These lesions consisted of many compact foci of lymphocytes, within which vascular spaces were seen (Figs. 1 and 2). The lesions were in the lamina propria. At this level, the epithelium was two cells in thickness and tended toward cuboidal. These lymphocytic alterations ceased abruptly at the cervix. The etiology of GVD in cattle is not known. Although a virus is believed responsible (G6tze, 1949:271-272), successful isolation and reproduction of the disease in this species has not been reported. At any rate the characteristic lesions appear from 2 to 4 weeks after apparent contact (Crawley, et al., 1950) and then subside in about one month (Roberts, op. cit.), although individual animals may have lesions for several months. If ov4#:::9: