MORPHOMETRIC STUDIES OF THE RESPONSE OF THE LUMINAL EPITHELIUM IN THE RAT UTERUS TO EXOGENOUS HORMONES

Google Scholar
  • 1 January 1980
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 130  (JUN) , 867-881
Abstract
The luminal epithelium of the uterus was examined morphometrically in ovariectomized rats from 0-25 h after a single injection of either 2.5 mg progesterone or 2.5 .mu.g estradiol s.c. In each case, the epithelial cells were 50% taller at 25 h than in controls. In the progesterone series, nuclear size increased at 3 h, but no nucleolar enlargment was seen at any time; free and attached ribosomes occupied an increased fraction of the cytoplasm from 3 h onwards. In the estradiol series, nuclear and cytoplasmic size decreased at 3 and 6 h: no changes in cell composition were seen until after 6 h. At 25 h, nuclei and nucleoli were significantly enlarged, and the volume fraction occupied by rough endoplasmic reticulum was increased. Progesterone apparently acts on these cells by a mechanism different from that of estradiol, and which does not involve DNA-directed RNA synthesis.

This publication has 26 references indexed in Scilit: