U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it's official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you're on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Skip to Main Navigation
Skip to Page Content
Skip to Atlas Navigation

Clitoral Gland - Atrophy

Image of atrophy in the clitoral gland from a female B6C3F1 mouse in a chronic study
Clitoral gland - Atrophy, Unilateral in a female B6C3F1/N mouse from a chronic study. The gland on the left is atrophied, while the gland on the right is within normal limits.
Figure 1 of 5
Image of atrophy in the clitoral gland from a female F344/N rat in a chronic study
Clitoral gland - Atrophy in a female F344/N rat from a chronic study. There is a reduced amount of glandular tissue and more numerous ducts.
Figure 2 of 5
Image of atrophy in the clitoral gland from a female F344/N rat in a chronic study
Clitoral gland - Atrophy in a female F344/N rat from a chronic study (higher magnification of Figure 2). The amount of glandular tissue is decreased, and the ducts are prominent.
Figure 3 of 5
Image of atrophy in the clitoral gland from a female F344/N rat in a chronic study
Clitoral gland - Atrophy in a female F344/N rat from a chronic study. Some of the glandular tissue has been replaced by fibrous connective tissue.
Figure 4 of 5
Image of atrophy in the clitoral gland from a female F344/N rat in a chronic study
Clitoral gland - Atrophy in a female F344/N rat from a chronic study (higher magnification of Figure 4). There is an increase in intervening fibrous connective tissue with a reduction in glandular tissue.
Figure 5 of 5
next arrow
View all images

comment:

Atrophy of clitoral gland parenchyma is a spontaneous aging change in mice and rats. Atrophy also accompanies duct dilatation ( Figure 1image opens in a pop-up window ). Mild inflammatory cell infiltrate may also be associated with the reduction in glandular tissue. The hallmark of atrophy is a reduction in the amount of acinar tissue of the clitoral gland; individual acini are composed of small numbers of sebaceous cells containing variable amounts of dark eosinophilic secretory granules. Frequently the lateral ducts, distended by accumulated secretion, are prominent ( Figure 2image opens in a pop-up window and Figure 3image opens in a pop-up window ). There is often an increase in the interstitial fibrous tissue ( Figure 2image opens in a pop-up window , Figure 3image opens in a pop-up window , Figure 4image opens in a pop-up window , and Figure 5image opens in a pop-up window ).

recommendation:

Clitoral gland atrophy should be diagnosed and given a severity grade whenever it is present. Inflammation accompanying clitoral gland atrophy should not be diagnosed separately unless warranted by severity. If atrophy is secondary to duct dilation, then atrophy does not need to be diagnosed separately but should be described in the narrative if treatment related.

references:

Copeland-Haines D, Eustis SL. 1990. Specialized sebaceous glands. In: Pathology of the Fischer Rat: Reference and Atlas (Boorman GA, Eustis SL, Elwell MR, Montgomery CA, MacKenzie WF, eds). Academic Press, San Diego, CA, 279-293.

National Toxicology Program. 1995. NTP TR-439. Toxicology and Carcinogenesis Studies of Methylphenidate Hydrochloride (CAS No. 298-59-9) in F344/N Rats and B6C3F1 Mice (Feed Studies). NTP, Research Triangle Park, NC.
Abstract: https://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/go/6022

Seely JC, Boorman GA. 1991. Mammary gland and specialized sebaceous glands. In: Pathology of the Mouse: Reference and Atlas (Maronpot RR, Boorman GA, Gaul BW, eds). Cache River Press, Vienna, IL, 613-635.

Back to top

Web page last updated on: November 23, 2015