Fl. Monice et al., Granulated decidual cells in the mouse deciduoma: A putative source of decidual prolactin in mice, CELLS T ORG, 168(4), 2001, pp. 252-263
Decidual cells are endometrial fibroblasts that redifferentiate during preg
nancy in several species of mammals. In this work, we describe a subpopulat
ion of resident decidual cells in the mouse endometrium that are joined by
intercellular junctions and have cytoplasmic granules. Decidualization was
induced in pseudopregnant mice on the 4th day of pseudopregnancy by injecti
on of 30 mul of arachis oil into the uterine lumen. The uteri were collecte
d on day 8 of pseudopregnancy (at 4 p.m., 8 p.m. and 11 p.m.) and on day 9
(at 8 a.m.). The tissues were fixed for light and electron microscopy. Duri
ng day 8 of pseudopregnancy, granulated cells were present at the antimesom
etrial pole of the endometrium; they were concentrated at the periphery of
the antimesometrial decidua and disappeared on day 9 of pseudopregnancy. Th
e cytoplasm of the granulated decidual cells had acidophilic granules that
stained also with periodic acid-Schiff (PAS). These granules stained with a
nti-rat prolactin antibody in both light and electron microscope immunocyto
chemical preparations. Vacuoles of various sizes were always present in the
granulated cells. A PAS-positive and prolactin-stained material was often
deposited at the periphery of the vacuoles. Our results indicate that the g
ranulated decidual cells are the source of decidual prolactin which accumul
ates in cytoplasmic granules. These granulated cells therefore form a trans
ient gland in the mouse antimesometrial endometrium (granulated decidual gl
and). Copyright (C) 2001 S. Karger AG,Basel.