ISSN:
0003-276X
Keywords:
Life and Medical Sciences
;
Cell & Developmental Biology
Source:
Wiley InterScience Backfile Collection 1832-2000
Topics:
Medicine
Notes:
Fetal membranes grafted to the omentum in mice do not degenerate at a time corresponding to the normal termination of the donor pregnancy, as would be expected if a “biological clock” were matching their lifespan with that of the embryo and placenta. Neither, in our experience, did such grafted membranes form a variety of highly differentiated secondary tissues, as some authors have suggested. Rather, the fate of the various components of the membrane seemed different for each cell type. In allogeneic hosts a brisk cellular reaction occurred and the membranes were destroyed. In isogeneic hosts, the grafts was vascularized and healthy membrane-derived structures were still present after 33 days of grafting (48 days conceptual age). Mesothelial cells remained applied to well-preserved basement membrane, whereas visceral endoderm cells appeared to degenerate or else detach themselves and become free rounded cells with foamy cytoplasm, sometimes multinucleated. Mesodermal cells accompanying the blood vessels of the membrane probably accounted for the connective tissue stroma seen in these grafts. The normal failure of the fetal membranes to persist in situ after the termination of pregnancy may result from the resistance of the uterine lumen to grafts not having highly invasive properties, together with the general sloughing of the uterine lining which takes place after delivery.
Additional Material:
2 Tab.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ar.1091600410
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