The response of the uterine surface to ovarian hormones in the aged rat.

By scanning electron microscopy uterine luminal epithelium of the rat was studied to determine whether aging alters ovarian hormone stimulated ultrastructural changes in that portion of the endometrial surface into which implantation takes place in the younger animal. Results show that in the aged rat this surface differentiates in response to ovarian hormones in a manner qualitatively similar to that which occurs in the young animal. Epithelial cells of ovariectomized rats, both young and aged, were polygonal in outline, flattened, or even somewhat concave, and had short microvilli. Following estrogen treatment cells of both groups were round or oval and bulged into the lumen. Cells of young rats were covered with long microvilli. Most cells of aged rats had microvilli of equal or greater length; a small number of epithelial cells had fewer and shorter microvilli. Cells of progesterone-treated young and aged animals both were covered with short microvilli and bore membrane protrusions. The protrusions varied in size, shape and numbers both within and between age groups. These findings suggest that differences in the surface ultrastructure of the aged uterus reflect age-related changes in hormone levels.