Summary
Cells obtained by collagenase treatment of metrial gland tissue from rats of day 12, 13, 14 and 15 of pregnancy were examined for the presence of surface membrane receptors for immunoglobulin (Fc receptors). Using an EA rosetting technique in which sheep red blood cells (SRBC) were sensitized with a rabbit anti-SRBC immunoglobulin preparation, Fc receptors were found on a proportion of the cells. The majority of the granulated metrial gland cells were not included in the rosetting cell population, suggesting that they do not possess the type of Fc receptor detected by this method. A comparison was made between results obtained when cells were counted in suspension and those obtained from cell counts on sections of fixed material. Both methods were found to yield similar results.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Aarli, J.A., Aparicio, S.R., Lumsden, C.E., Tønder, O.: Binding of normal human IgG to myelin sheaths, glia and neurons. Immunol. 28, 171–185 (1975)
Aarli, J.A., Tønder, O.: Fc binding of IgG skeletal muscle tissue. Int. Arch. Allergy 47, 273–284 (1974)
Baker, B.L.: Histochemical variations in the metrial gland of the rat during pregnancy and lactation. Proc. Soc. exp. Biol. Med. (N.Y.) 68, 492–496 (1948)
Basten, A., Miller, J.F.A.P., Sprent, J., Pye, J.: A receptor for antibody on B lymphocytes I. Method of detection and functional significance. J. exp. Med. 135, 610–626 (1972 a)
Basten, A., Warner, N.L., Mandel, T.: A receptor for antibody on B lymphocytes II. Immunochemical and electron microscopy characteristics. J. exp. Med. 135, 627–642 (1972 b)
Bloch, S.: Die Glandula myometrialis im Uterus der Maus. Acta anat. (Basel) 56, 103–119 (1964)
Brambell, F.W.R.: Transmission of passive immunity from mother to young. Amsterdam and London: North-Holland 1970
Bulmer, D., Peel, S.: The demonstration of immunoglobulin in the metrial gland cells of the rat placenta. J. Reprod. Fertil 49, 143–145 (1977)
Dallenbach-Hellweg, G., Battista, J.V., Dallenbach, F.O.: Immunohistological and histochemical localisation of relaxin in the metrial gland of the pregnant rat. Amer. J. Anat. 117, 433–450 (1965)
Dallenbach-Hellweg, G., Nette, G.: Morphological and histochemical observations on trophoblast and decidua of the basal plate of human placenta at term. Amer. J. Anat. 115, 309–326 (1964)
Dixon, A.D., Bulmer, D.: The fine structure of cells in the rat metrial gland. J. Anat. (Lond.) 108, 123–133 (1971)
Elson, J., Jenkinson, E.J., Billington, W.D.: Fc receptors on mouse placenta and yolk sac cells. Nature (Lond.) 255, 412–413 (1975)
Huber, H., Fudenberg, H.H.: Receptor sites of human monocytes for IgG. Int. Arch. Allergy 34, 18–28 (1968)
Jenkinson, E.J., Billington, W.D., Elson, J.: Detection of receptors for immunoglobulin on human placenta by EA rosette formation. Clin. exp. Immunol. 23, 456–461 (1976)
Johnson, P.M., Faulk, W.P., Wang, A.C.: Immunological studies of human placenta. Immunol. 31, 659–664 (1976)
Karnovsky, M.J.: A formaldehyde-glutaraldehyde fixative of high osmolality for use in electron microscopy. J. Cell Biol. 27, 137A (1965)
Larkin, L.H.: Electron microscopy of granule release in metrial gland cells of the pregnant rat. Anat. Rec. 172, 109–126 (1972)
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)
Matre, R., Johnson, P.M.: Multiple Fc receptors in the human placenta. Acta path, microbiol. scand. (Sect. C) 85, 314–316 (1977)
Matre, R., Tønder, O., Endresen, C.: Fc receptors in human placenta. Scand. J. Immunol. 4, 741–745 (1975)
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)
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, J.: Studies on the physiology of the maternal placenta of the rat. Proc. roy. Soc. B 119, 1–31 (1935)
Shevach, E.M., Jaffe, E.S., Green I.: Receptors for complement and immunoglobulin on human and animal lymphoid cells. Transplant. Rev. 16, 3–28 (1973)
Smith, L.J.: Metrial gland and other glycogen containing cells in the mouse uterus following mating and throughout implantation of the embryo. Amer. J. Anat. 119, 15–24 (1966)
Stewart, I.., Peel, S.: The structure and differentiation of granulated metrial gland cells of the pregnant mouse uterus. Cell Tiss. Res. 184, 517–527 (1977)
Tønder, O., Morse, P.A., Humphrey, L.J.: Similarities of Fc receptors in human malignant tissue and normal lymphoid tissue. J. Immunol. 113, 1162–1169 (1974)
Wild, A.E., Dawson, P.: Evidence for Fc receptors on rabbit yolk sac endoderm. Nature (Lond.) 268, 443–445 (1977)
Wislocki, G.B., Weiss, L.P., Burgos, L.H., Ellis, R.A.: The cytology, histochemistry and electron microscopy of the granular cells of the metrial gland of the gravid rat. J. Anat. (Lond.) 91, 130–140 (1957)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Acknowledgements. Our thanks are due to Dr. A.E. Wild for his generous help, both in advice and in provision of immunoglobulins and immunoglobulin fractions, to Professor D. Bulmer and Dr. S. Peel for their continued help and advice, and to the Wellcome Trust for financial support.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Bray, J., Stewart, I. & Craggs, R. The demonstration of cells bearing Fc receptors in the metrial gland of the pregnant rat uterus. Cell Tissue Res. 192, 89–96 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00231025
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00231025