title: Reorganization of the apical cytoskeleton of uterine epithelial cells during early pregnancy in the rat: a study with myosin subfragment 1.
abstract: Actin filaments were identified in the epithelial cells of rat uterus following detergent extraction and decoration of microfilaments (MF) with myosin subfragment 1 (S1). MF connections with cytoplasmic organelles and the apical plasma membrane are also described. Transmission electron microscopy revealed that the regular microvilli of non-pregnant, oestrous animals contain several decorated MF with rootlets descending into a densely filamentous terminal web. Following mating, the actin cytoskeleton was examined on days 1, 3 and 6 of pregnancy. In this period, the irregular projections that replace MV assumed an underlying, dense network of decorated MF, whilst smoother surfaces displayed few cytoplasmic filaments. At the time of blastocyst implantation, a structured terminal web was no longer present. Structural details were revealed concerning the contents of large, bleb-like projections found on the apical surface.
authors.affiliation: Department of Histology and Embryology, University of Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: K A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Luxford
authors.forename: C R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Murphy
mesh_terms: D000199:Actins / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003599:Cytoskeleton / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D004847:Epithelial Cells; D004848:Epithelium / Q000648:ultrastructure; D004971:Estrus; D005260:Female; D009218:Myosins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011270:Pregnancy, Animal / Q000502:physiology*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D014599:Uterus / Q000648:ultrastructure*
chemical_list: D000199:Actins; D009218:Myosins