Increase in cholesterol in the apical plasma membrane of uterine epithelial cells during early pregnancy in the rat.
Freeze-fracture cytochemistry with the cholesterol-binding antibiotic filipin has been used to examine the plasma membrane of uterine epithelial cells at different stages of pregnancy in the rat. We find many more filipin-induced lesions on day 6 of pregnancy than on day 1 and suggest that this indicates a higher cholesterol content at this time. Since day 6 of pregnancy is the time at which blastocysts implant in the rat uterus, we consider the possible significance of an increased cholesterol content for implantation.
D000818:Animals; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000378:metabolism*; D004847:Epithelial Cells; D004848:Epithelium / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005260:Female; D005372:Filipin; D005614:Freeze Fracturing; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D011247:Pregnancy; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D013997:Time Factors; D014599:Uterus / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure
D005372:Filipin; D002784:Cholesterol