ABSTRACT
Cytologic evaluation of the female and male reproductive systems is more commonly performed in dogs than cats. In the dog, vaginal cytology is frequently used to optimize timing for breeding and improve pregnancy rates. Cytology of a vaginal swab will contain high numbers of superficial squamous epithelial cells, low to moderate numbers of anucleate squamous epithelial cells, and low numbers of neutrophils. In early diestrus, vaginal cytology samples contain noncornified parabasal and small intermediate epithelial cells as well as several neutrophils. Vaginitis or vulvovaginitis may be difficult to assess cytologically because low to moderate numbers of neutrophils are a normal finding during proestrus, diestrus, and anestrus. Cytologic samples from uterine flushing contain degenerate endothelial cells, large numbers of neutrophils, and scattered macrophages, lymphocytes, and plasma cells. Morphologic abnormities observed in spermatozoa in wet mounts of semen samples can also be recognized during cytologic evaluation of testicular aspirates.
