Normal Developmental and Estrous Cycle–dependent Histological Features of the Female Reproductive Organs in Microminipigs

Abstract

The microminipig has become an increasingly attractive animal model for various experimental practices because of its manageable size; however, studies of the histological features of the female reproductive organs in microminipigs are limited. The present study investigates the sexual development of the reproductive organs and the cyclical changes during the estrous cycle in female microminipigs. The ovaries, oviducts, uteri, and vaginal tissues from 33 animals aged 0 to 26 months were utilized in this study. By evaluating the large tertiary follicles, corpora lutea, and the regressing corpora lutea, we estimated that female microminipigs reached puberty at approximately 5 months of age and sexual maturity at 8 months of age. The appearance of the follicles and corpora lutea in the ovaries, as well as the epithelium in other reproductive organs, was synchronized with each phase of the estrous cycle and was identical to that in common domestic pigs. In addition, several spontaneous findings were observed, including mesonephric duct remnants adjacent to oviducts and mineralization in ovaries. Understanding the normal histology of the reproductive organs in microminipigs is crucial for advancing pathological evaluations for future toxicological studies.