Cytology of the Human Uterine Gland Cell

Abstract

ONLY one type of cell is to be found in the uterine glands. Some of these cells may be ciliated, but are otherwise like the non-ciliated cells. In the proliferative and premenstrual phases (b), the normal constituents of these cells are mitochondria (M), Golgi apparatus (GA), fat (F) and glycogen (G). No formed secretions otherwise are found. Throughout the entire intermenstrual period, the Golgi apparatus remains juxta-nuclear and confined, but at menstruation (a), in the deeper parts of the glands, which are not broken down, a diffuse apparently secretory phase begins (V), closely resembling the secretion phases of such glands as those of the epididymis or pancreas islet cells. The surviving postmenstrual uterine gland cells have a clear cytoplasm and small juxta-nuclear Golgi apparatus. Thus, except just at menstruation, no satisfactory evidence for secretion by uterine glands during the normal intermenstrual phases could be found. There is, as has been mentioned, extensive storage of fat (premenstrual) and glycogen, and the lumen of the gland often shows a material which stains well in muchæmatein and mucicarmine, whatever value can be attached to these methods.