Samples for endometrial cytology were collected both from live bitches
using transcervical uterine cannulation (n=48) and postmortem (n=10),
The cells identified were endometrial epithelial cells, leucocytes, e
rythrocytes, spermatozoa, bacteria and cervical or vaginal cells, The
endometrial epithelial cells varied morphologically throughout the rep
roductive cycle and had signs of degeneration during late dioestrus an
d during early and mid-anoestrus following dioestrus and postpartum. N
eutrophils were the most common leucocytes observed during pro-oestrus
, oestrus, dioestrus and early pregnancy, and lymphocytes during anoes
trus, Macrophages were frequently seen during anoestrus, Erythrocytes
were found in variable numbers at all stages of the reproductive cycle
, Spermatozoa were detected in samples collected during oestrus and ea
rly pregnancy in bitches which had their last mating one to three days
previously, Bacteria were commonly observed during pro-oestrus and oe
strus, Cornified cervical or vaginal cells were present during pro-oes
trus and oestrus, This study demonstrated that the numbers, types, pro
portions and morphology of cells in endometrial cytological samples fr
om normal bitches varied throughout the reproductive cycle.