A method for the creation of an abdominal utero-cutaneous fistula in the monkey is described. This surgical technique provides a means for serial endometrical biospy and observation of histological response.Serial evaluation of the human endometrium by transcervical suction biopsy has recently found widespread use. Biopsy by this technique permits accurate evaluation of the effects of sex steroids, determination of pathological endometria and timing of ovulation. In the rhesus monkey, however, the tortuous endocervical canal resulting from a prominent cervical colliculus (Wislocki, 1933) prevents successful endometrial biopsy. Previous investigations have, for the most part, relied on hysterectomy in order to obtain endometrial samples for study. Recently both Martin & Eckstein (1966) and Mastroianni & Rosseau (1965) have published studies demonstrating techniques of transcervical cannulation of the monkey uterus, but neither method lends itself to dependable biopsy. Van Wagenen & Morse (1940) first described a technique for the formation of a partially exteriorized uterus in the monkey. In two of these preparations they were able to observe cyclic anatomical variations in the uterus and to obtain endometrial curettings.In our laboratory we have recently developed a technique for preparing a chronic utero-cutaneous abdominal fistula which permits repeated suction biopsy of the endometrium in the unanaesthetized monkey. This communica¬ tion gives an outline of the technique and of its successful application.The anaesthetized female monkey is placed on the operating table in a supine position. The lower abdomen is surgically opened midway between the umbilicus and symphysis through a 7 to 8 cm vertical incision. The uterine fundus is then grasped in a Babcock clamp and the serosal surface of the fundus elevated to the level of the skin incision at its lowest border. The anterior peritoneum is then closed circumferentially about the mid-segment of the corpus so that sutures unite peritoneum and serosa at the lower border of the peritoneal incision. The remainder of the peritoneal incision is closed in the 573
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.