Differentiation of granulated metrial gland cells in ovariectomized mice given ovarian hormones.

A study has been made of the differentiation of granulated metrial gland (GMG) cells in ovariectomized mice given progesterone and oestradiol at a time equivalent to the first 6 days of pregnancy. By varying the hormone regime, it was shown that progesterone is the ovarian hormone likely to be involved in stimulating GMG cell differentiation in the early pregnant uterus. Progesterone, however, failed to maintain, or allow further differentiation, of GMG cells during stages equivalent to the early post-implantation period, suggesting that the progesterone is not directly stimulating this cell population. The hypothesis that the differentiation and maintenance of GMG cells is under the control of activated stromal cells in the preimplantation period is supported by these results.