Uterine Gland Microstructure in the Pregnant and the Non-pregnant Lesser Galago (Galago senegalensis)

Abstract

The histology and the ultrastructure of the uterine glands of the lesser bushbaby (Galago senegalensis) were studied in six specimens (5 pregnant and one non pregnant) which were fixed partly with bouin’s fixative and part with 2.5% glutaraldehyde in 0.1 M cacodylate buffer. An overview of the main results revealed uterine glands in the non-pregnant uterus are rudimentary and scarce within the mucosa. In early pregnancy (first trimester) the uterine glands profiles appear in clusters. In late stage pregnancy (third trimester) the uterine gland profiles appear opposite chorionic vesicles. In the later stages of gestation maternal glandular epithelium consisted mainly of simple columnar epithelium. The cells had abundant flattened cisternae of granular endoplasmic reticulum usually with an apical-basal orientation. Their nuclei had abundant euchromatin relative to the amount of heterochromatin. They also had a prominent Golgi apparatus quite characteristic of protein synthesizing cells. The basal plasmalemma was thrown into infoldings that have the effect of increasing the surface area across which nutrients could pass from the maternal circulation and are secreted by the cell as histiotrophe. Both physiologic hypertrophy and hyperplasia of the uterine glands are observed to occur with advancement of pregnancy.