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Ultrastructure of Endometrial Stromal Cells in the Ewe during the Estrous Cycle and Early Pregnancy

U.S. Department of Agriculture¹, Beltsville, Maryland 20705

Abstract

On days 0, 10 and 12 through 17 of the estrous cycle, and on days 12 through 17 of pregnancy, determinations were made of the percent cytoplasmic volume occupied by mitochondria, lysosomes, dense bodies and lipid droplets, and of the quantity of rough endoplasmic reticulum (RER) in the endometrial stromal cells. Seventy ewes were used.

The ultrastructure of the stromal cells changed markedly during the estrous cycle, the most pronounced change occurring in the RER. On day 0, the RER was abundant and extensively dilated. By days 10, 12 and 13, the RER had decreased in quantity. However, by days 14 through 17, the concentration of RER increased significantly. Mitochondria occupied a greater cytoplasmic volume on day 10 than on any other day. Lysosomes and dense bodies did not vary significantly in quantity. Lipid was low on days 0, 10 and 12, reached a maximum by day 14 and declined by day 17.

¹ Animal Physiology and Genetics Institute, A.R.S., Agricultural Research Center. The authors express appreciation to M. V. Clark, Pamela Lloyd and Nancy Faulkner for technical assistance and to Dr. L. R. Miller for assistance in the statistical analysis of the data.