Leucocyte‐like cells of the vagina and uterus, and their modification during the normal estrous cycle and by progestin and estrogen treatment

Examinations of genital tract tissues and vaginal smears of normal cycling and progestin and estrogen treated cattle, sheep, and swine suggest that the majority of leucocyte‐like cells appearing in the tissues and smears of non‐infected animals are not of immediate blood origin, but originate from u...

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Veröffentlicht in:The Anatomical record 1966-08, Vol.155 (4), p.591-601
Hauptverfasser: Nellor, John E., Brown, Joan E.
Format: Artikel
Sprache:eng
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Zusammenfassung:Examinations of genital tract tissues and vaginal smears of normal cycling and progestin and estrogen treated cattle, sheep, and swine suggest that the majority of leucocyte‐like cells appearing in the tissues and smears of non‐infected animals are not of immediate blood origin, but originate from undifferentiated genital tract mesenchymal cells. During the luteal phase of the cycle, or during progestational treatment, plasma cells are produced in great numbers. They penetrate the stroma, epithelium, and lumen of the vagina as intact cells. Shortly after their entry into the vaginal lumen, they appear similar to polymorphonuclear leucocytes, as the result of dissolution of the nuclear membrane and scattering of the wedge‐shaped nuclear masses throughout the cell. The relative paucity of leucocyte‐like cells in the vaginal smear close to the time of ovulation results from interruption of the migration and differentiation of the plasma cells within the genital tissues, by estrogen induced fragmentation of the plasma cells. Eosinophilic polychromatin fragmenting plasma cells account for the majority of eosinophilic leucocytes in healthy genital tract tissues during proestrus and estrus.
ISSN:0003-276X
1097-0185
DOI:10.1002/ar.1091550411