Histochemical Observations on the Mouse Uterus During the Oestrous Cycle

Abstract

Changes in the uterus of the mouse during the oestrous cycle have been examined histochemically to demonstrate any variation in the occurrence of acid phosphatase, lipids and polysaccharide com¬ plexes (PAS-positive material) mainly with reference to the epithelium. Acid phosphatase was shown to have a distinct pattern of activity at each stage of the oestrous cycle. There was no evidence for acid phos¬ phatase release, but a considerable build-up in large and small lysosomes was observed in the epithelium at metoestrus and di-oestrus. A different pattern was observed in the case of lipids and PAS-positive material. Lipids were found in considerable amounts at di-oestrus, pro-oestrus and metoestrus, whereas a strong PAS-positive reaction was observed at pro-oestrus and oestrus.

Effects of Ovarian Steroid Hormones on Histochemically Demonstrable Lipids in the Rat Uterine Epithelium

“…Earlier observations that the presence of lipids in the uterine epithelium of normal rats bears a direct relationship to the oestrous cycle, were based principally on the use of osmium (Alden, 1947 ;Fuxe & Nilsson, 1963) which stains lipids non-specifically (Drury & Wallington, 1967), Sudan black (Fuxe & Nilsson, 1963;Smith, 1970) which is non-specific for phospholipids (Pearse, 1968), and Scharlach R (Alden, 1947) which stains neutral lipids (Pearse, 1968). The techniques used in this study permit specific differentiation between intracellular lipids.…”

“…Studies of lipid metabolism in the uterine epithelium of the rat and the mouse during the oestrous cycle have shown that there is a cyclic production of lipids which is demonstrable histochemically (Alden, 1947;Elftman, 1958;Fuxe & Nilsson, 1963;Smith, 1970). Rat uterine lipid metabolism has also been investigated biochemically, using total uterine segments (Emmelot & Bosch, 1954;Davis & Alden, 1959;Aizawa & Mueller, 1961;Gorski & Nicolette, 1963;Nishigori & Aizawa, 1968).…”

“…Progesterone, on the other hand, appears to facilitate the storage of lipids (Alden, 1947;Smith, 1970).…”