A simple technique for sampling the uterine cavity of the baboon

The uterine environment within which the primate conceptus develops is poorly understood. This study was undertaken a) to develop a technique by which the uterine lumen could be sampled simply and efficiently and b) to analyze the proteins present in these uterine flushings throughout the menstrual cycle. The instrument described in this communication consists primarily of a double lumen cannula which permits one to inject and aspirate the flushing medium simultaneously. Volume recoveries usually exceeded 75% and the concentration of protein did not change significantly throughout the menstrual cycle. Two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of the uterine flushings revealed the presence of one polypeptide (Mr congruent with 66,000; pI congruent with 5.7-6.0) that was not observed in serum and was presumed to be of uterine origin. The technique described here provides a rapid method by which baboon uterine secretions can be frequently collected in the lightly sedated animal.