title: The uterovaginal sperm host glands of the quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica): an ultrastructural and ultracytochemical study.
abstract: Ultrastructural and ultrahistochemical studies were performed on the uterovaginal sperm host glands of the quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica). The proximal parts of the glandular necks are lined by a pseudostratified epithelium, consisting of high columnar ciliated cells and small, irregular shaped, basal cells. The true glandular epithelium is composed only of columnar cells with microvilli on their luminal end. A characteristic luminal feature is a large lipid droplet in the perinuclear region. In the subplasmalemmal region numberous tubular profiles are seen which could represent a cellular resorption system. To evaluate the absorptive capacity of the uterovaginal sperm host glands, tracer studies with HRP, ferritin, lanthanum and ruthenium red were undertaken. Since between 5 min and 3 h after injection no absorption could be found with the techniques mentioned, it is suggested that phagocytosis of spermatozoa by the glandular epithelium is not likely to occur.
mesh_terms: D000042:Absorption; D000818:Animals; D002470:Cell Survival; D003370:Coturnix / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D005260:Female; D008055:Lipids / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D011784:Quail / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D013083:Sperm Transport; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D014599:Uterus / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D014621:Vagina / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure*
chemical_list: D008055:Lipids