Lymphocyte number and distribution in the rat uterine epithelium during estrous cycle and early pregnancy

The number of intraepithelial lymphocytes (IEL) in the luminal and glandular epithelium of the uterus of virgin rats was analysed in diestrus, proestrus and estrus, and in nulliparous rats on days 5, 7 and 9 of pregnancy. IEL number was calculated either with respect to the number of epithelial cells or to the length of epithelium section. It was found that in diestrus, the number of IEL was, on average, 3.7 per 100 luminal epithelial cells or 6.7 per 1 mm of epithelium section, whereas in proestrus, it decreased to 0.9 and 1.2 IEL, respectively. On day 5 of pregnancy (before implantation) the number of IEL decreased further to 0.45 per 100 luminal epithelial cells or 0.9 per 1 mm of epithelium. On days 7 and 9 of pregnancy, IEL number further decreased in implantation sites, whereas in interimplantation sites it remained at the level calculated for day 5 of pregnancy. The population of uterine IEL consisted of small (82-99%) and large (1-18%) lymphocytes. In all stages of the estrous cycle, IEL occurred with a frequency of 68-87% in the basal region, 8-20% in the middle region and 4-12% in the apical region of the luminal epithelium width.