[Functional changes in the relief of the apical surface of epithelial endometrial cells in the rat]

The surface topography of the uterine born epithelial lining was studied in adult rats using scanning electron microscopy. Cyclic changes in the apical surface relief were observed that involved the formation of numerous microvilli with the increase in blood estrogen content. with the decrease in estrogen content and with the increase in that of progesterone the microvilli reduced in number and the epithelium folding diminished. Similar changes were seen in ovariectomised rats following the injection of corresponding hormones. In neonatal androgenized animals hypersecretion of estrogens and deficit of progesterone provided the persistence of microvilli and caused an intense migration of lymphoid system cells to the uterine born cavity.