title: Fetal Development of the Bovine Uterus: A Light Microscopy and Immunohistochemical Study.
abstract: Important steps during the prenatal development of the bovine uterus are described using conventional hematoxylin-eosin staining of fetuses from different developmental stages [crown-rump length (CRL) 9.2-94.0 cm]. Additionally, a number of intermediate filaments (keratin 7, 8, 14, 18, 19; and vimentin), the basement membrane protein laminin, smooth-muscle marker (SMA), and S100 were studied to further characterize certain differentiation processes. During early development, the uterine epithelium is simple or (pseudo)stratified with bud-like protrusions. Developing caruncles can be observed in the corpus uteri at a CRL of 15.8 cm onwards, showing a simple, keratin-positive epithelium. In contrast, the intercaruncular areas are characterized by a (pseudo)stratified epithelium, which also shows positive staining in a different manner for the investigated keratins. A differentiation of smooth muscle cell layers can be observed from a CRL of 24.4 cm onwards. Intense SMA-positive cells/fibers, arranged perpendicularly to the developing circular SMA-positive muscle cell layer, can be found preferentially located in the developing caruncles. Lymphocytes occur in the uterine epithelium and stroma in the corpora and cornua of fetuses with a CLR of 15.8 cm and higher.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Sciences, Institute for Anatomy, Histology, and Embryology, Ludwig Maximilian University, Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: Rebecca A-M
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Kenngott
authors.forename: Fred
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sinowatz
mesh_terms: D000199:Actins / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle / Q000196:embryology* / Q000378:metabolism; D003094:Collagen / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D047109:Fetal Development; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007633:Keratins / Q000378:metabolism; D007797:Laminin / Q000378:metabolism; D009418:S100 Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D014599:Uterus / Q000196:embryology* / Q000378:metabolism; D014746:Vimentin / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000199:Actins; D007797:Laminin; D009418:S100 Proteins; D014746:Vimentin; D007633:Keratins; D003094:Collagen