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Morphological, Histological and Immunohistochemical Study of the Rabbit Uterus during Pseudopregnancy

Research Authors
Mahmoud Abd-Elkareem
Research Abstract

Ten mature virgin rabbit does (4-5 months old) with mean weight of 2.4 kg were induced to ovulate; by
intramuscular injection of HCG (50-70 IU). The day of induction was considered 0 days. Uteri were obtained from
14 h, 3, 7, 18 days post induction. At first stage of pseudopregnancy; the two uteri became hyperemic and slightly
swollen. The uterine epithelium and endometrial glands epithelium were of columnar type with oval basal nuclei. The
endometrial glands were few in number and small in size. The endometrial glands showed apocrine activity. The
uterus had six longitudinal folds and the uterine epithelium form crypts. The endometrium had slight vascularization.
At middle stage of pseudopregnancy, the two uteri became hyperemic and more swollen. This stage characterized
by; mucosal folding, glandular formation, epithelial proliferation and thickening of the uterine wall. At last stage of
pseudopregnancy; the two uteri became flaccid and more swollen. This stage characterized by dramatic changes in
the uterine architecture in the form of: increased epithelial proliferation and crypt formation increase the complexity
of luminal folding, increase in length, size and abundance of the uterine endometrial glands, increase in the uterine
micro vascular development (increased abundance of the large microvessels and development of subepithelial
capillary plexuses). Tunica vascularis could be demonstrated between the inner circular and outer longitudinal
smooth muscle fibers of the myometrium at the all stages of psedopregnancy. Telocytes with its characteristic
morphology could be demonstrated in the myometrium of the rabbit uterus during pseudopregnancy. Cell-specific
immuno-localization of progesterone receptors alpha (PRA) in the rabbit uterus during pseudopregnancy revealed
that, there were mild, moderate and strong nuclear PRA immunostaining in the endometrial epithelial cells,
endometrial glands and in the smooth muscles fibers of the myometrium of the first, middle and last stages of
pseudopregnancy respectively.

Research Journal
Journal of Cytology & Histology
Research Member
Research Publisher
omicsonline
Research Rank
1
Research Vol
8-1
Research Website
https://www.omicsonline.org/cytology-histology.php
Research Year
2017
Research Pages
1-7