J. Anim Sci.
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J. Anim Sci. 1972. 35:830-835.
© 1972 American Society of Animal Science
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Influence of a Progestogen on the Histology and Carbohydrate Histochemistry of the Bovine Cervical Mucosa1

R. J. Wordinger2, 3,, J. F. Dickey3 and J. R. Hill, Jr.4

Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina 29631

Abstract

THE cervical mucosa of 20 heifers was examined with carbohydrate histochemistry and histology. Ten heifers received melengestrol acetate (MGA) at a rate of 0.5 mg per head per day for 14 days starting at day 4 of the estrous cycle. Ten control heifers received no MGA. All animals were slaughtered at 3 days postestrus. Micrometer measurements were made on the height of epithelial cells and stored mucin.

Histology and histochemistry indicated that the bovine cervical mucosa is composed of 2 distinct epithelial cell types: (1) non-ciliated columnar; and (2) ciliated columnar cells. The non-ciliated columnar cells were more numerous and contained a large amount of stored mucin in the supranuclear region. The stored mucin and mucin secreted into the lumen appeared to be composed of both sulfated and carboxylic acidic mucosubstances as indicated by carbohydrate histochemistry.

Treatment of beef heifers with 0.5 mg MGA for 14 days starting at day 4 of the estrous cycle had no effect on the types of mucosubstances present in the epithelial cells. Cervical epithelial cells from MGA-treated animals were greater in height and contained more mucus than control animals. The increase in the size of the epithelial cells and the amount of stored mucin after MGA treatment probably indicates a prolonged progestational effect on the cervical mucosa.

Footnotes

1 Published with approval of the Director of the South Carolina Agriculture Experiment Station as Technical Contribution No. 998.

2 The authors are grateful to the Upjohn Company, Kalamazoo, Michigan for supplying the melengestrol acetate and to Mrs. Joan Hudson for technical assistance.

3 Laboratory for Reproductive Physiology, University of Pennsylvania, School of Veterinary Medicine, Philadelphia.

4 Department of Animal Science. MGA® is a registered trademark of the Upjohn Company for melengestrol acetate.






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Copyright © 1972 by the American Society of Animal Science.