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Studies on the development of cell contacts and of the intercellular matrix during decidualization in the rat

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Zusammenfassung

Die Zellkontakte zwischen sich entwickelnden Deciduazellen wurden sowohl mit der Dünnschnittechnik als auch mit der Gefrierätzmethode im Rattenuterus untersucht. Zum Zeitpunkt der Implantation wurden nur Puncta adhaerentia zwischen Stromazellen gefunden. Nexus (gap junctions) erschienen 24 h nach Beginn der Decidualisierung und nahmen danach an Zahl und Größe zu. Diese morphologischen Befunde widersprechen der Ansicht, daß sich der initiale Reiz für die Decidualisierung der Stromazellen über Nexus ausbreitet. Nach der Decidualisierung wurde eine Zunahme von amorpher, extrazellulärer Substanz gleichzeitig mit einer Abnahme von Kollagenfasern gesehen. Diese amorphe Substanz stellt wahrscheinlich Fibrinoid dar.

Summary

Cell contacts between developing decidual cells were examined in thin sections and in replicas of freeze-cleaved tissue of rat uterus. At the time of implantation only puncta adhaerentia were found between stromal cells. Gap junctions appeared 24 h after decidualization and thereafter increased in number and extent. Thus, there is little morphological evidence for a propagation of the initial stimulus for decidualization via gap junctions. An increase in amorphous, extracellular material is noted after decidualization with a concomitant decrease of collagen fibers. This amorphous material probably represents fibrinoid.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Universitäts-Frauenklinik Bonn (Direktor: Prof. Dr. E. J. Plotz), D-5300, Bonn-Venusberg, Federal Republic of Germany

    Jost Brökelmann

  2. Department of Anatomy (Direktor: Prof. Dr. D. W. Fawcett), Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA

    Jost Brökelmann

  3. Laboratories of Human Reproduction and Reproductive Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA

    Jost Brökelmann & John D. Biggers

Authors
  1. Jost Brökelmann
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  2. John D. Biggers
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Additional information

These studies were done at the Laboratories of Human Reproduction and Reproductive Biology, Harvard Medical School, during a Research Fellowship of the Ford Foundation (J.B.). The study was supported by the Ford Foundation Grant No. 720-0369 and National Institutes of Health Grant No. HD06916

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Brökelmann, J., Biggers, J.D. Studies on the development of cell contacts and of the intercellular matrix during decidualization in the rat. Arch. Gynecol. 227, 103–117 (1979). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02103284

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02103284

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