Relationship of granulated metrial gland cells to the trophoblastic barrier of mice and human placenta

Abstract EN

Background: A study was performed on the presence of Granulated Metrial Gland (GMG) cells in mice uteri, similarly in human, the presence of human Decidual Granular Leukocytes (DGLs) in aborted placental samples was also studied.

Aim of the study: to demonstrate further evidence which may lead to the suggestion that the granulated metrial gland (GMG) cells are specialized immune cells which are involved in inhibition of the rejection reaction of the mother to her foetus as an allograft in pregnant mice uterus and it's relation to the decidual granular leukocytes (DGLs) in human pregnant mothers during early pregnancy.

Material and Method: Tissue samples of uterus were taken from mice on each of days (6, 10, 12, 14 and 16) of pregnancy, also human aborted placental tissue samples were taken at 2, 3 &5 months.

All samples were prepared by using routine histological techniques.

Results: Granulated cells were found in small numbers randomly distributed through out the endometrium on day 6 of pregnancy with a subsequent loss from areas of the antimesometrial and lateral decidua but increase dramatically in number in the developing decidua basalis sharing an intimate association with fibroblast-like stromal cells.

Regarding human aborted placental tissue samples, similar to GMG cells, human Decidual Granular Leukocytes (DGLs) are the dominant cell population in 2 months aged deciduas, while in 3 and 5 months aged placenta, the placenta appeared with reduced populations and distribution of DGLs, they looked unhealthy.

The loss of (GMG) cells from the implantation sites is accounted for either by degeneration in situ or by migration via vascular channels to the blood vessels of maternal placenta which suggested that it could be of functional significance.

Conclusion: Our results indicate that DGLs probably protect the materno-foetal unit from other effects causing disorders to the placental development, and it may play a role in the pathogenesis of idiopathic repetitive abortion.