Summary
A study was made with the light and electron microscopes of the granulated metrial gland cells of the decidua basalis of the pregnant mouse uterus, up to day 11 of pregnancy. The granulated metrial gland cells are large, up to 50 μ in diameter, mono- or binucleate and the glycogen rich cytoplasm typically contains many large glycoprotein granules which may be up to 5 μ in diameter. Morphological evidence is described in support of a lymphocyte-like cell being the precursor to the granulated metrial gland cell. This differentiation sequence is similar to that already proposed in the rat but differences between the ultrastructure of the mature metrial gland cells of rats and mice were noted.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Baker, B.L.: Histochemical variations in the metrial gland of the rat during pregnancy and lactation. Proc. Soc. exp. Biol. (N.Y.) 68, 492–496 (1948)
Bernard, O., Ripoche, M.-A., Bennett, D.: Distribution of maternal immunoglobulins in the mouse uterus and embryo in the days after implantation. J. exp. Med. 145, 58–75 (1977)
Bloch, S.: Die Glandula myometralis im Uterus der Maus. Acta anat. (Basel) 56, 103–119 (1964)
Bridgman, J.: A morphological study of the development of the placenta of the rat. J. Morph. 83, 61–85 (1948)
Bruijn, W.C. de: Glycogen, its chemistry and morphological appearance in the electron microscope. 1. A modified OsO4 fixative which selectively contrasts glycogen. J. Ultrastruct. Res. 42, 29–50 (1973)
Bulmer, D., Peel, S.: The demonstration of immunoglobulin in the metrial gland cells of the rat placenta. J. Reprod. Fertil. 49, 143–145 (1977)
Dickson, A.D., Bulmer, D.: Observations on the origin of metrial gland cells in the rat placenta. J. Anat. (Lond.) 95, 262–273 (1961)
Karnovsky, M.J.: A formaldehyde-glutaraldehyde fixative of high osmolality for use in electron microscopy. J. Cell Biol. 27, 137A (1965)
Korn, E.D.: Introductory workshop: membranes and their association with contractile proteins. In: Cell mobility, Book B (R. Goldman, T. Pollard and J. Rosenbaum, eds.). Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory 1976
Larkin, L.H.: Bioassay of metrial gland extracts for relaxin using the mouse interpubic ligament technique. Endocrinology 94, 567–570 (1974)
Larkin, L.H., Cardell, R.R.: Differentiation of granulated metrial gland cells in the uterus of the pregnant rat. Amer. J. Anat. 132, 241–258 (1971)
Larkin, L.H., Flickinger, C.J.: Ultrastructure of the metrial gland cell in the pregnant rat. Amer. J. Anat. 126, 337–354 (1969)
Larkin, L.H., Schultz, R.L.: Histochemical and autoradiographic studies of the formation of the metrial gland in the pregnant rat. Amer. J. Anat. 122, 607–619 (1968)
McFarland, W., Heilman, D.H.: Lymphocyte foot appendage: its role in lymphocyte function and in immunological reaction. Nature (Lond.) 205, 887–888 (1965)
Palade, G.E.: A study of fixation for electron microscopy. J. exp. Med. 95, 285–297 (1952)
Peach, R., Bulmer, D.: Cytochemistry and electron microscopy of the granulated metrial gland cells of the rat placenta. J. Anat. (Lond.) 99, 415–416 (1965)
Peel, S., Bulmer, D.: The fine structure of the rat metrial gland in relation to the origin of the granulated cells. J. Anat. (Lond.) 123, 687–696 (1977)
Reynolds, E.S.: The use of lead citrate at high pH as an electron-opaque stain in electron microscopy. J. Cell Biol. 17, 208–212 (1963)
Rudell, C.L.: Embedding media for 1–2 micron sectioning. 2. Hydroxyethyl methacrylate combined with 2-butoxyethanol. Stain Technol. 42, 253–255 (1967)
Selye, H., McKeown, I.: Studies on the physiology of the maternal placenta in the rat. Proc. roy. Soc. B 119, 1–31 (1935)
Smith, L.J.: Metrial gland and other glycogen containing cells in the mouse uterus following mating and through implantation of the embryo. Amer. J. Anat. 119, 15–24 (1966)
Zucker-Franklin, D.: The ultrastructure of lymphocytes. Seminars in Hemat. 6, 4–27 (1969)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Stewart, I., Peel, S. The structure and differentiation of granulated metrial gland cells of the pregnant mouse uterus. Cell Tissue Res. 184, 517–527 (1977). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00220975
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00220975