Histological study of granulated metrial gland (GMG) cells in beige (DA-bg/bg) rats.
To clarify the roles of granulated metrial gland (GMG) cells for successful pregnancy in rats, GMG cells in beige rats (genotype: DA-bg/bg), whose NK cells show lysosomal dysfunction because of abnormalities in cytoplasmic granules, were examined in mid- and late-pregnancy by light and electron microscopies. The GMG cells of beige rats were significantly less in number than those of the two controls (genotypes: DA-bg/+ and DA-+/+) in mid- and late-pregnancy, and this accompanied a low reproductive performance in the beige rats. The size of intracellular granules in the GMG cells of the beige rats was larger than for the two controls on each corresponding day of pregnancy. These results suggest that the activity of rat GMG cells and peripheral NK cells might be influenced by the beige gene, which is involved in reproductive performance.
Hondo
Eiichi
E
Department of Veterinary Anatomy, Faculty of Agriculture, Yamaguchi University, Japan.
Kokubu
Keiji
K
Nagahisa
Ayusa
A
Nakamuta
Nobuaki
N
Ozaki
Kiyokazu
K
Sagara
Eiji
E
Kiso
Yasuo
Y
D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D003594:Cytoplasmic Granules / Q000473:pathology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005260:Female; D008247:Lysosomes / Q000473:pathology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008791:Metrial Gland / Q000473:pathology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D011247:Pregnancy; D011506:Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D051381:Rats; D011922:Rats, Mutant Strains; D012098:Reproduction / Q000502:physiology*
C491134:Lyst protein, rat; D011506:Proteins