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Reproductive Health Surveillance Program

The Reproductive Health Surveillance Program builds on the work began by Dr. Linda Munson at U.C. Davis in the 1980s. The program is led by Dr. Dalen Agnew, Michigan State University, and Dr. Anneke Moresco. Both trained with Dr. Munson, serve on the Reproductive Management Center's Advisory Board, ensuring close collaboration and communication regarding many RMC projects. For a list of studies by the RHSP, see here.

The RHSP conducts comprehensive pathologic examinations on reproductive tracts to detect deleterious effects associated with contraception or other reproductive management practices. The results of these analyses are shared with the RMC and provide important information about contraceptives that is incorporated in the Contraception Recommendations. These results also form the basis of advice provided to TAGs and SSPs on other reproductive management approaches such as separation of sexes. Complete reproductive tracts are needed from both contracepted and non-contracepted individuals of any age, male and female animals, whether or not gross lesions are present (as many are microscopic), so that we can determine if diseases are spontaneous in a species or caused by the contraceptive. Tissue collected by ovariohysterectomy or castration or at necropsy are appropriate.

Tissue Submission Instructions

The archive and therefore the quality of the information we can provide heavily depends on your participation in submitting reproductive tracts. Because we are no longer able to provide reports free of charge, we have developed a flow chart to help you determine how best to participate.


  1. Option 1: Send whole tract to RHSP (address in submission form link below)
    1. No fee is charged, no pathology report is issued
    2. Please fill out the RHSP submission forms
    3. The reproductive tract is added to the RHSP archive
  2. Option 2: Send whole tract to Michigan State University DCPAH service, to share with RHSP
    1. A fee is charged and report is provided by DCPAH- MSU (see the above website or contact Dr. Dalen Agnew for current pricing)
    2. Please fill out the MSU and the RHSP submission forms
    3. Send to Dr. Dalen Agnew at the address below
    4. The reproductive tract is added to the RHSP archive
  3. Option 3: Share tissues with RHSP
    1. Send one tissue set to your pathologist, pay fee to him/her and receive report from him/ her
    2. Trim a separate set of samples for RHSP (half of each ovary, two section of each uterine horn, for more details see here)
    3. Send second set of tissues with RHSP submission form
    4. Processed as option 1 (no fee charged by RHSP, no report provided)
  4. Option 4: Share slides and / or report with RHSP
    1. Send tissues to your pathologist
    2. Pay him/ her and receive report from him/ her
    3. Request they send a recut of the reproductive tissue to RHSP (may add a small amount to your cost, probably comparable to shipping an extra set of tissues to RHSP)
    4. Fill out RHSP submission form, email form to anneke_moresco@hotmail.com
    5. Optional: forward a pathology report from your pathologist

Shipping

Wrap fixed tracts in formalin-soaked paper towels, enclose in a leak-proof plastic container and ship by ground US mail (Federal Express is not necessary) to:

Dr. Dalen Agnew
Attn: Histo Research
Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory
4125 Beaumont Road
Lansing, MI USA 48910-8104

Phone: 517-353-1683
agnewd@msu.edu