Histological Feature of Uterus and Uterine Tube During Late Period of Pregnancy in Rabbits

Abstract

Current work was conducted to investigate the histological architecture of the uterine tube and uterus during the period of late pregnancy in rabbits. Twelve adult local breed rabbits were used. The samples from different parts of the uterine tube were prepared for histological study after staining with H&E, Masson’s trichrome and combine Alcian blue (pH2.5)-PAS. The pre ampulla was a narrow tube and its tunica mucosa had slightly long simple mucosal folds lined by pseudostratified columnar epithelium, the ampulla had a wide lumen and its tunica mucosa displayed several highly tall branched mucosal folds with few short simple folds while the isthmus was the narrowest region and its tunica mucosa displayed few of tall and short simple mucosal folds. The mucosa of three parts of the uterine tube was lined by pseudostratified columnar epithelium which is composed of three types of cells: mucous secretory cells, non-secretory cells and basal cells, the mucous secretory cells were the predominant type and revealed secretory activities. The lamina propria-submucosa of the uterine tube was composed of cellular connective tissue and tunica muscularis. The uterus had a very thick wall with well-recognized endometrium and myometrium, the endometrium was composed of many-branched and simple endometrial folds that were covered by multinucleated syncytial cells and simple cuboidal epithelial cells. Lamina propria was composed of loose connective tissue had scattered groups of well growing simple uterine glands that showed secretory activities. The current result showed that the uterus during the late period of pregnancy was differed from those of non-pregnant rabbits, while the uterine tube at late pregnancy has a structure that appeared prepared for the next physiological period.