Variation in distribution of interstitial and epithelial lymphocytes in female uterine tubes of rabbit during early stages of pregnancy

Abstract

Fallopian tubes or uterine tubes (TU) are organs through which gametes transport themselves and also embryos travel through them to the uterus. The objective of the present study was to determine the histologic distribution of epithelial (LIE) and interstitial (LIT) lymphocytes in the endosalpinx of the fimbriae, infundibulum, ampullae and isthmus in the uterine tubes of doe rabbits during the first 4 d of pregnancy. Fragments of TU tissue were obtained from New Zealand white rabbits, set and processed through paraffin inclusion in order to perform histologic cuts which were stained with hematoxylin-eosin (H&E), Schiff's periodic acid (PAS) and Giemsa. Lymphocytes of both the epithelial layer (LIE) and of the lamina propia of the stroma (LIT) were counted. A greater number of LIE and LIT was found in the fimbriae on d 1 and 4 of pregnancy (P<0.01). In the infundibulum a greater number of both LIE and LIT was found on d 4 (P<0.01) and a significant increase of both factors in the ampullae was observed on d 1 and 2 (P<0.01) relative to the control group. In isthmus a significant decrease relative to the control group was seen in LIT and LIE on d 3 (P<0.01). These results indicate that LIE and LIT distribution in the different regions of the TU mucosa show variations in the first four days of pregnancy and a regionalized distribution.