title: Morphological characteristics of preimplantation stage endometrium in the rhesus monkey.
abstract: The morphological characteristics of endometrium on day 6 after ovulation of conception (group 1) and non-fecund, menstrual (group 2) cycles have been studied in the rhesus monkey (n = 30). A conception cycle was distinguished by the presence of a developmentally normal, age-stage-synchronized embryo. Thus, 78% of the mated cycles (n = 18) yielding synchronous embryos (12 zona-encased and two zona-free blastocysts) were used for this study. On day 6 after ovulation, no significant changes in the serum concentrations of oestrogen and progesterone were seen in conception cycles (n = 14) compared with the non-mated, normal ovulatory cycles (n = 12). Morphometric analyses revealed that on day 6 of gestation (n = 8), endometrium differed from the corresponding non-mated luteal phase (n = 7) with significant increases in epithelial mitosis (P < 0.01), height of glandular epithelium (P < 0.05), volume ratio of gland cell to gland (P < 0.03), degree of pseudostratification (P < 0.02), and higher frequency of supranuclear, adluminal accumulation of vacuoles in gland cells (P < 0.05). The degree of stromal oedema was higher (P < 0.02) in fecund cycles but there was no change in venular diameter. In a separate set of experiments, estimates of tissue vascular response revealed a higher (P < 0.02) endometrial extravascular albumin space on the same day of gestation; there were no differences, however, in endometrial blood volume, or in the number of von Willebrand antigen-positive capillaries and small vessels between the two groups (group 1, n = 6; group 2, n = 5).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ghosh
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Roy
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sengupta
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Johannisson
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D047108:Embryonic Development / Q000502:physiology*; D004717:Endometrium / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D005260:Female; D005306:Fertilization / Q000502:physiology; D008253:Macaca mulatta; D011247:Pregnancy