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Role of Uterine Telocytes During Pregnancy

Research Authors
Soha A Soliman, Hanan H Abd-Elhafeez, Alaa S Abou-Elhamd, Basma Mohamed Kamel, Nada Abdellah, Fatma El-Zahraa A Mustafa
Research Abstract

Endometrial remolding and angiogenesis are critical events that occur during pregnancy in order to establish uteroplacental vascular communication. This study investigated the role of uterine telocytes (TCs) in pregnancy. We analyzed the distribution of TCs and morphological changes in the endometrium of the gravid rabbit uterus at different stages of pregnancy: after ovulation, pre-implantation (day 7), post-implantation (days 8 and 9), and mid-pregnancy (day 14) and late (days 21–28) pregnancy. TCs gradually increased with the progression of pregnancy. They had distinctive telopodes (TPs) and podoms, with intranucleolar chromatin. The TCs established contact with decidual cells, growing a glandular epithelium, blood vessels, and immune cells, such as lymphocytes, neutrophils, and macrophages. The TCs underwent morphological changes at the post-implantation phase. They acquired thick and voluminous TPs, formed an extensive three-dimensional (3D) labyrinth at mid-pregnancy, and exhibited irregular-shaped nuclei and a dilated rough endoplasmic reticulum at late pregnancy. They also acquired a convoluted contour-formed complex network. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed an extensive 3D network in the endometrium, forming a condensed sheath at late pregnancy. Transmission electron microscopy and SEM detected fenestrated TPs, and TCs were identified by CD34 and vascular endothelial growth factor expression. TCs also expressed matrix metalloproteinase-9 and transforming growth factor beta-1. Results suggested that TCs might play an essential role in maternal placenta formation, especially decidualization, regulation of uterine gland development, and neovascularization of maternal uterine blood vessels.

Research Date
Research Journal
Microscopy and Microanalysis, ozac001, https://doi.org/10.1093/micmic/ozac001
Research Publisher
https://academic.oup.com/mam/advance-article/doi/10.1093/micmic/ozac001/6927141?login=false
Research Rank
JCR (Q1 ) Impact Factor 4.099 SI: Microscopy 1 out of 9
Research Website
https://academic.oup.com/mam/advance-article/doi/10.1093/micmic/ozac001/6927141?login=false
Research Year
Received: 21 January 2022 Revision received: 28 September 2022 Accepted: 02 October 2022 Published: 20 December 2022