Oviduct, Uterus, and Vagina

Abstract The oviduct, uterus, and vagina are part of the female reproductive system and are specialized organs that serve to transport oocytes to the site of fertilization and implantation, to support fetal growth and nourishment, and to connect the growing fetus to the external environment (outside of the body) at the time of birth. The oviduct, uterus, and vagina are responsive to and produce steroid and protein hormones that may act locally or impact organs at distant sites. With the advent of more frequent testing of suspected endocrine disrupting compounds, the organs of the female reproductive system are more often being identified as targets of xenobiotic-induced changes. In rats, both spontaneous and compound-induced alterations can be observed in the female reproductive system and may occur due to direct effects on the oviduct, uterus, and vagina or secondarily as a result of effects on the hypothalamic–hypophyseal–gonadal axis. This chapter describes commonly observed spontaneous and compound-related, non-neoplastic and neoplastic changes of the oviduct, uterus, and vagina.