The significance of the mast cells in the human umbilical cords during different stages of intrauterine life

Abstract EN

-Pieces from 40 human umbilical cords during different periods of gestation were collected and prepared for histological examination.

Ten serial sections were randomly selected from each paraffin block, some of them were stained with Haematoxyline and Eosin, while the others were stained with Toludine blue to identify and count the mast cells.

The mean of mast cells + standard deviation (S.D) were 8.00 + 1.82; 28.00 + 6.51 ; 18.00 + 2.27 and 6.00 + 1.

69 during the times 13-20 weeks; 21-28 weeks; 29-36 weeks and full term pregnancy respectively.

The number of mast cells during the time 21-28 weeks was very highly significant compared to its number during the time 13-20 weeks (p < 0.0001), and was also highly significant compared to its number during the time 29-36 weeks (PcO.OOl).

This indicates that the maximum number of mast cells was during the period 21-28 weeks of intrauterine life.

The increase in number during this time may play a role for the benefit and well-fair of the growing fetus and the new born baby later on.