[Age and changes in the structure of the walls of the intrinsic arteries of the uterus].

By means of common histological, histochemical and morphometrical methods age changes in the cushion-like intimal protrusions of the intraorganic arteries have been studied in 176 uteri of women at all ages that died from trauma and other diseases which do not produce any changes in the uterus. Beginning from two years of age, in the uterus segmentary artery wall certain intimal thickenings are revealed; at this age they consist of immature fibrillar and cellular elements of the connective tissue and single myocytes. At the pubertal age an intensive development of the cushion-like protrusions is observed. The amount of myocytes in them increases at the expense of migration from muscular tunic of the vessel; they arrange chaotically. Then the structure of the elastic and collagenous carcass of the protrusions becomes more complex, the myocytes in them are oriented along the course of the artery, or along the sloping spiral. During adolescence and mature age, cyclic changes in the wall structure of the uterus intraorganic arteries are observed, depending on the phase of the menstrual cycle. During the second part of the proliferative phase, certain retruction of the protrusions is observed, and at the end of the secretion phase--maximal increase in their height. The intimal protrusions are specialized structures, playing an important role in ensuring an optimal blood circulation in the uterus during ovulation and in performing menstruation. Reverse development of these structures takes place in elderly and old age.