Morphological considerations of the reproductive organs in anestrus gilts affiliated with true hermaphrodites in Thailand

Abstract

True hermaphrodites are animals with both male and female gonads that have concurrently developed in the same
individual. The incidence of true hermaphroditism is moderately higher in pigs than in other domestic animals. The
aim of this study was to describe the genital organs of gilts culled due to anestrus with true hermaphrodites by gross
and histological analysis. Three anestrus gilts were categorized as unilateral true hermaphrodites, having one ovotestis
and one ovary, while three other gilts were bilateral true hermaphrodites with two ovotestes. The anomalous structures
of the female genital organs, such as oviductal aplasia and hyperclitoris were found in these gilts. The testicular tissue
of all ovotestes was mainly composed of Sertoli cells without any spermatogenic cells and a peculiar proliferation of
Leydig cells. The anatomical and histological structures of the ovary, ovarian tissue of ovotestis, oviduct and uterus
seemed to be normal in some pigs but the incidence of endometritis, uterine edema and uterine epithelial deterioration
occurred in both groups and, in particular, ovarian cysts were usually detected in the bilateral ovotestes. These findings
clarify the abnormalities of true hermaphrodite gilts in commercial pig stocks in Thailand and indicate the association
between the anomalous development of genital organs and the genetic/hormonal disorders that could be the cause of
anestrus.