Immunological characterisation of surface receptors on rat metrial gland cells.

Cells from metrial glands of pregnant rats were examined for surface receptors. No E, EA mu or EAC receptors were demonstrated. Fc gamma receptors were detected by EA gamma rosette formation, using sheep red blood cells sensitised with the IgG fraction of rabbit or rat antisera. Significantly more of the metrial gland cells, and of the rat peritoneal exudate and spleen cells examined as controls, formed rosettes with red cells sensitised with rabbit IgG than with those sensitised with rat IgG. The proportion of metrial gland cells forming EA gamma rosettes decreased significantly between day 12 and day 15 of pregnancy but increased by day 19. Metrial gland cells from deciduomata formed EA gamma rosettes, and the proportions varied during pseudopregnancy. At day 13 of pregnancy a greater proportion of metrial gland cells displayed Fc gamma receptors in multiparous rats than in primigravid rats. The binding affinity of the Fc gamma receptors was characterised by inhibition studies with homologous and heterologous IgGs. Maximal inhibition occurred when the inhibitory IgG was homologous to the IgG used to sensitise the red cells. EA gamma rosette formation by cells from the metrial gland was inhibited by both monomeric and heat-aggregated IgGs.