Figure 1.
A) Gross anatomical and photomicrographs of Müllerian duct cysts along the spermatic ducts (vasa deferentia) in an otter (Lutra lutra).
Otter testes, epididymides and funiculi are shown. Arrowheads point to multiple proposed Müllerian duct remnant cysts attached to the spermatic ducts cranial to both the right and left testis. The rectangle indicates were microphotograph in Figure 1b is taken from. Horizontal bar: 1 cm. B) Microphotograph of a paraductular cyst found in an otter (Lutra lutra). Overview of typical cyst, transversely cut, with fluid filled lumen (arrow head) and no communication to the adjacent vas deferens (asterisk). H&E stain, horizontal bar in the order of 1,5 mm. The rectangle indicates were microphotograph in Figure 1c is taken from. C) Microphotograph of a paraductular cyst found in an otter (Lutra lutra). Higher magnification of the cyst wall, showing the fibrous capsule (asterisk), internally lined by a single layer of cuboidal epithelial cells (arrow). The cyst contains cell-free granular fluid (arrow head). In some cysts these cells are attenuated and flattened. H&E stain, horizontal bar in the order of 300 µm.
Figure 2.
Map of Sweden, showing finding sites of dead otters (Lutra lutra) with one or more cysts on the spermatic ducts (red triangles) and otters without any cysts (filled green circles).