Mammary secretory carcinoma in a female domestic rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus): histopathological and immunohistochemical features.
- 1Laboratory of Comparative Pathology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
- 2Laboratory of Comparative Pathology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil. [email protected].
Abstract
Secretory carcinoma of the breast is a rare histological subtype in women and is uncommon in female dogs and cats, with only two cases described in female dogs and one case described in a cat. This report describes the histopathological and immunohistochemical features of secretory carcinoma of the mammary gland in a domestic rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus). Microscopic evaluation revealed a non-encapsulated, well-demarcated neoplastic proliferation composed of epithelial cells arranged in solid and tubular patterns, supported by a delicate fibrous connective tissue stroma. The neoplastic cells had slightly eosinophilic cytoplasm, frequently containing large, well-demarcated vacuoles that displaced the nucleus to the periphery, giving the cells a signet-ring-like appearance. Periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) histochemical staining, performed with and without diastase digestion, showed positivity in the intracellular and extracellular secretory material in both approaches. Immunohistochemical evaluation was performed for the markers α-lactalbumin, Ki-67, estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, and COX-2. Positive cytoplasmic immunolabeling for α-lactalbumin was observed in neoplastic cells and in intracellular and extracellular secretory material, confirming their secretory nature. The diagnosis of secretory carcinoma was established based on the association of histopathological, histochemical, and immunohistochemical features. Considering the secretory features of the mammary gland in rabbits, secretory carcinoma should be included in the differential diagnosis of mammary carcinomas with prominent secretory activity in this species.
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BibTeX
@article{nunes2026mammary,
title = {{Mammary secretory carcinoma in a female domestic rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus): histopathological and immunohistochemical features.}},
author = {Maíra Meira Nunes and Eric Santos Oliveira and Júlia Gabriela Wronski and Rayane de Souza Ruas Lopes and Marcella Letícia Melo Souza da Rocha and Karen Yumi Ribeiro Nakagaki and Geovanni Dantas Cassali},
journal = {Veterinary research communications},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1007/s11259-026-11513-9},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42836885},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Mammary secretory carcinoma in a female domestic rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus): histopathological and immunohistochemical features.
AU - Maíra Meira Nunes
AU - Eric Santos Oliveira
AU - Júlia Gabriela Wronski
AU - Rayane de Souza Ruas Lopes
AU - Marcella Letícia Melo Souza da Rocha
AU - Karen Yumi Ribeiro Nakagaki
AU - Geovanni Dantas Cassali
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/06
JO - Veterinary research communications
DO - 10.1007/s11259-026-11513-9
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42836885
AB - Secretory carcinoma of the breast is a rare histological subtype in women and is uncommon in female dogs and cats, with only two cases described in female dogs and one case described in a cat. This report describes the histopathological and immunohistochemical features of secretory carcinoma of the mammary gland in a domestic rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus). Microscopic evaluation revealed a non-encapsulated, well-demarcated neoplastic proliferation composed of epithelial cells arranged in solid and tubular patterns, supported by a delicate fibrous connective tissue stroma. The neoplastic cells had slightly eosinophilic cytoplasm, frequently containing large, well-demarcated vacuoles that displaced the nucleus to the periphery, giving the cells a signet-ring-like appearance. Periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) histochemical staining, performed with and without diastase digestion, showed positivity in the intracellular and extracellular secretory material in both approaches. Immunohistochemical evaluation was performed for the markers α-lactalbumin, Ki-67, estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, and COX-2. Positive cytoplasmic immunolabeling for α-lactalbumin was observed in neoplastic cells and in intracellular and extracellular secretory material, confirming their secretory nature. The diagnosis of secretory carcinoma was established based on the association of histopathological, histochemical, and immunohistochemical features. Considering the secretory features of the mammary gland in rabbits, secretory carcinoma should be included in the differential diagnosis of mammary carcinomas with prominent secretory activity in this species.
SN - 0165-7380
SN - 1573-7446
ER -