Distribution of eosinophils and mast cells in the cervical tissue of non-gravid mares during dioestrus.
Little is known about the local cellular immune system of the equine cervix. In this study we characterize the distribution of eosinophilic granulocytes and mast cells in the cervical tissue of non-gravid mares during dioestrus. For this purpose cervices of 10 mares were histologically examined after Sirius red and Toluidine blue staining. Both cell types could be found in the lamina propria mucosae. In the tunica muscularis the two cell populations were only rarely detected. No cells could be found in the epithelium mucosae. There was a decreasing cell density from the vaginal to uterine side of the cervix (p < 0.01). Therefore, eosinophils might be a part of the local cellular immune system of the equine cervix during dioestrus, unlike in animals studied so far as cows and rats.
Wehrend
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A
Clinic for Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Andrology of Large and Small Animals, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Frankfurter Strasse 106, D-35392 Giessen, Germany. axel.wehrend@vetmed.uni-giessen.de
Huchzermeyer
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S
Bostedt
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H
D000818:Animals; D002584:Cervix Uteri / Q000166:cytology*; D004031:Diestrus / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*; D004804:Eosinophils / Q000166:cytology*; D005260:Female; D006736:Horses / Q000502:physiology; D008407:Mast Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D009092:Mucous Membrane / Q000166:cytology; D013194:Staining and Labeling / Q000662:veterinary