A uterine biopsy
Keywords: uterine, uterus, biopsy, infertility, punch
Endometrial biopsies are important in diagnosing endometritis and other causes of infertility in mares.
Endometrial biopsies are important in diagnosing endometritis and other causes of infertility in mares.
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Image size: 990 x 1242px
The jaws of a biopsy instrument are shown here on the dorsal endometrial surface where biopsies on normally taken. This is because the biopsy instrument is placed in the uterus and the dorsal endometrium is pushed down (per rectum) into the jaws of the punch. Sometimes this is referred to as a "guided" biopsy technique. It is far superior to a "blind" biopsy technique where the endometrial biopsy punch is inserted through the cervix and its jaws are closed in the hope of obtaining a satisfactory biopsy. This author has read endometrial biopsies for a diagnostic laboratory for many years and most of the unsatisfactory samples were taken using the "blind" technique. In fact, samples of the cervix have often been submitted instead of endometrial biopsies.
When taking a biopsy, It is safer to feed the endometrium into the side of the jaws as shown here rather than into the front of the jaws. A large, deep and penetrating biopsy can result in the latter case. This instrument is made by the Pilling company, USA.
The inset shows the biopsy itself being deposited into a container of Bouin's fluid which is 80% picric acid and 20% formalin. This is a so-called "hard fixative" suitable for genital and embryonic tissue because the histological architecture is not destroyed when the large amounts of water in these tissues are extracted during processing. However, the use of Bouin's fluid is by no means mandatory because ordinary formalin also provides satisfactory results.
Image size: 990 x 1242px
The jaws of a biopsy instrument are shown here on the dorsal endometrial surface where biopsies on normally taken. This is because the biopsy instrument is placed in the uterus and the dorsal endometrium is pushed down (per rectum) into the jaws of the punch. Sometimes this is referred to as a "guided" biopsy technique. It is far superior to a "blind" biopsy technique where the endometrial biopsy punch is inserted through the cervix and its jaws are closed in the hope of obtaining a satisfactory biopsy. This author has read endometrial biopsies for a diagnostic laboratory for many years and most of the unsatisfactory samples were taken using the "blind" technique. In fact, samples of the cervix have often been submitted instead of endometrial biopsies.
When taking a biopsy, It is safer to feed the endometrium into the side of the jaws as shown here rather than into the front of the jaws. A large, deep and penetrating biopsy can result in the latter case. This instrument is made by the Pilling company, USA.
The inset shows the biopsy itself being deposited into a container of Bouin's fluid which is 80% picric acid and 20% formalin. This is a so-called "hard fixative" suitable for genital and embryonic tissue because the histological architecture is not destroyed when the large amounts of water in these tissues are extracted during processing. However, the use of Bouin's fluid is by no means mandatory because ordinary formalin also provides satisfactory results.
