Granulocytes in the endometrium of post-partum women

Abstract

Endometrial samples of women at various stages of gonadal activity after parturition were examined for the presence and numbers of endometrial granulocytes. Although samples at all the stages contained significant numbers of the granulocytes (i.e. greater than 7/high-power field), the 100% values for late-proliferative and adaptation hyperplasia were significantly higher than the values for the resting (81.8%), early (82.4%) and mid- (87.9%) proliferative and secretory (83.3%) phases. We suggest that this correlates with the suggestion that the granulocytes constitute a receptor system for oestrogens.

Cyclic variation of the cellular components in human uterine fluid

“…We obtained lower counts of granulocytes and mononuclear phagocytic cells in the luteal phase than in the proliferative and midcycle phases. Higher counts of granulocytes during the proliferative and midcycle phases are comparable to the results for eosinophilic granulocytes in the endometrium (van Bogaert, 1975;van Bogaert & Maldague, 1979). However, our data on uterine fluid do not favour the hypothesis that eosinophilic granulocytes should represent a specific oestrogen-sensitive cell system, since they constituted less than 1% of the total number of granulocytes in all cyclic phases.…”

“…However, our data on uterine fluid do not favour the hypothesis that eosinophilic granulocytes should represent a specific oestrogen-sensitive cell system, since they constituted less than 1% of the total number of granulocytes in all cyclic phases. Variations in the number of eosinophilic granulocytes in the uterine tissues (Bjersing & Borglin, 1962;van Bogaert & Maldague, 1979) may be secondary to variations of the total number of granulocytes, which may be difficult to detect in histological sections. The finding of considerably higher percentages of eosinophils in two uterine fluid samples may possibly be explained by unknown minor trauma to the uterus (Bjersing & Borglin, 1962).…”

“…Eosinophilic granulocytes have been reported to appear in the uterus following very low doses of oestrogen (Bjersing & Borglin, 1964;Tchernitchin, Tchernitchin & Galand, 1976). Some authors have found them in highest numbers in the human endometrium during the proliferative phase (van Bogaert, 1975;van Bogaert & Maldague, 1979), but others have found them mainly during the luteal phase, following stimulation with progesterone and during early pregnancy (Hellweg, Ferin & Ober, 1960;Kazzaz, 1972).…”