title: Lectin-induced deciduoma formation in the pseudopregnant rat.
abstract: Decidual cell induction in the pseudopregnant rat was examined in this study using the lectin concanavalin A (ConA). The histochemical binding of the lectin to the uterine cell surface at the time of deciduomatic induction was also studied. ConA was found to induce significant deciduomata (decidual-like tissue) in the uterine horn when injected intraluminally on day 5 of pseudopregnancy (PSP). ConA-induced deciduomata appeared as a series of discrete nodules in the uterine horn, reminiscent of the anatomical appearance of normal embryo implantation sites. Deciduoma induction by ConA was greatly reduced by pre-absorption of the lectin with its competitive sugar. Lectin histochemistry revealed binding of ConA to the cell surface on day 5 of PSP. Pre-absorption of the lectin with its competitive sugar also significantly reduced surface binding of the lectin, and this finding may be correlated with the greatly reduced ability of the pre-absorbed lectin to induce deciduomata. Possible mechanisms for the induction of deciduomata by lectins are considered.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy and Histology, University of Sydney, N.S.W, Australia.
authors.forename: T J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Shaw
authors.forename: C R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Murphy
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003208:Concanavalin A / Q000494:pharmacology*; D033301:Deciduoma / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D009929:Organ Size; D011247:Pregnancy; D011555:Pseudopregnancy / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000473:pathology*; D051381:Rats; D014599:Uterus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D003208:Concanavalin A