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Vagina, Epithelium - Hyperplasia

Image of hyperplasia in the vagina from a female B6C3F1 mouse in a chronic study
Vagina, Epithelium - Hyperplasia in a female B6C3F1/N mouse from a chronic study. There is a focal area of basal cell hyperplasia.
Figure 1 of 4
Image of hyperplasia in the vagina from a female B6C3F1 mouse in a chronic study
Vagina, Epithelium - Hyperplasia in a female B6C3F1/N mouse from a chronic study (higher magnification of Figure 1). There is a focal area of basal cell hyperplasia.
Figure 2 of 4
Image of hyperplasia in the vagina from a female Sprague-Dawley rat in a chronic study
Vagina, Epithelium - Hyperplasia in a female Sprague-Dawley rat from a chronic study. Arrow indicates focal area of squamous hyperplasia.
Figure 3 of 4
Image of hyperplasia in the vagina from a female Sprague-Dawley rat in a chronic study
Vagina, Epithelium - Hyperplasia in a female Sprague-Dawley rat from a chronic study (higher magnification of Figure 3). There is an area of squamous hyperplasia.
Figure 4 of 4
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comment:

Hyperplasia of the rodent vaginal epithelium ( Figure 1image opens in a pop-up window , Figure 2image opens in a pop-up window , Figure 3image opens in a pop-up window and Figure 4image opens in a pop-up window ) is often associated with hyperkeratosis and is usually diffuse. Cells are well differentiated with no atypia or invasion of the underlying stroma. Hyperplastic cells may form downward projections into the underlying stroma (rete pegs) ( Figure 3image opens in a pop-up window and Figure 4image opens in a pop-up window ). Hyperplasia occurs in a variety of settings, including control rats in persistent estrus during reproductive senescence, and secondary to increases in endogenous estradiol production or administration of hormonally active xenobiotics. Focal hyperplasia of vaginal epithelium is uncommon but has been observed.

Hyperplasia should be differentiated from normal variation in the appearance of the vagina during the estrus cycle (see Introduction for description of cyclical changes). Hyperplasia is increased thickness of the vaginal epithelium (compared with normal estrus in a normally cycling animal). 

The differential diagnoses for focal hyperplasia are papilloma and polyp. Hyperplastic cells are evident above the basement membrane of the epithelium and do not form a discrete proliferative mass of epithelial cells. Hyperplasia is restricted to the normal mucosal surface and does not protrude into the lumen. A polyp is composed predominantly of a fibromuscular core covered by normal or slightly hyperkeratinized epithelium.

recommendation:

Vagina, Epithelium - Hyperplasia should be diagnosed and graded when it is treatment related. If the epithelial thickening is a normal change associated with the normal estrous cycle, it should not be diagnosed as hyperplasia. Hyperkeratosis associated with the hyperplasia should not be diagnosed separately unless warranted by severity but should be described in the pathology narrative.

references:

Greaves P. 2012. Female genital tract. In: Histopathology of Preclinical Toxicity Studies: Interpretation and Relevance in Drug Safety Evaluations, 4th ed. Elsevier, Amsterdam, 667-724.

National Toxicology Program. 2010. NTP TR-558. Toxicology and Carcinogenesis Studies of 3,3',4,4'-Tetrachloroazobenzene (TCAB) (CAS No. 14047-09-7) in Harlan Sprague-Dawley Rats and B6C3F1 Mice (Gavage Studies). NTP, Research Triangle Park, NC.
Abstract: https://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/go/33564

Westwood FR. 2008. The female rat reproductive cycle: A practical histological guide to staging. Toxicol Pathol 36:375-384.
Abstract: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18441260

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Web page last updated on: November 23, 2015