Williams E S, Thorne E T, Kwiatkowski D R, Lutz K, Anderson S L
Wyoming State Veterinary Laboratory, Laramie.
J Vet Diagn Invest. 1992 Jan;4(1):38-44. doi: 10.1177/104063879200400109.
Vaginal cytology and vulva size were used to characterize the reproductive cycle of female black-footed ferrets (Mustela nigripes), Siberian polecats (M. eversmanni), and domestic ferrets (M. putorius furo). Emphasis was on black-footed ferrets because of the need to breed these critically endangered animals and on Siberian polecats because of the close taxonomic relationship to black-footed ferrets. Vaginal cytology of the 3 species of ferret is similar. Proestrus was characterized by an increasing percentage of superficial epithelial cells and enlargement of the vulva. During estrus, superficial cells were usually greater than or equal to 90% of epithelial cells in the vaginal lavage and after several days were fully keratinized. Neutrophils were more common during all stages of the estrous cycle in domestic ferrets than they were in the other species. Following copulation, percentage of superficial calls in the vagina declined and vulva swelling subsided. Large cells, probably of uterine symplasma origin, were observed in vaginal lavages following whelping or pseudopregnancy. Vaginal cytology is extremely useful in the reproductive management of black-footed ferrets and Siberian polecats. Knowledge of normal vaginal cytology could be applied to the diagnosis of female reproductive abnormalities in all 3 species.
阴道细胞学检查和外阴大小被用于表征雌性黑足雪貂（鼬属黑足鼬）、艾鼬（艾鼬）和家雪貂（艾鼬欧洲亚种）的生殖周期。由于需要繁育这些极度濒危的动物，所以重点研究了黑足雪貂；又因为艾鼬与黑足雪貂在分类学上关系密切，所以也对艾鼬进行了研究。这三种雪貂的阴道细胞学检查结果相似。发情前期的特征是表层上皮细胞百分比增加以及外阴肿大。在发情期，阴道灌洗液中的表层细胞通常占上皮细胞的90%或更多，几天后会完全角质化。在家雪貂的发情周期各阶段，中性粒细胞都比其他两种雪貂更常见。交配后，阴道中表层细胞的百分比下降，外阴肿胀消退。在分娩或假孕后的阴道灌洗液中观察到了可能源自子宫合体细胞的大细胞。阴道细胞学检查在黑足雪貂和艾鼬的生殖管理中极为有用。正常阴道细胞学的相关知识可应用于所有这三种雪貂雌性生殖异常的诊断。
