ENDOMETRIAL CYTOLOGY OF THE NORMAL BITCH THROUGHOUT THE REPRODUCTIVE-CYCLE

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.