[Decidualisation of the endometrial stromal cell. An electron microscopic study (author's transl)]

The fine structural changes of the endometrial stromal cell from late secretory phase up to full developed decidua cell have been investigated by means of electron microscope. During decidual transformation the cell volume, the assortment of cytoplasmic organelles and the mode of intercellular attachments undergo characteristic alterations. These alterations reflect an adaptation on new cellular functions. In contrast to the structural organization, which is transformed continuosly, the encymatic cell pattern exerts a step wise gradual transformation, since new encymatic capacities can only arise after their funtional structures have been established. To the most important functions of decidua cells and their prestages belong secretory and endocrine activities. Precollagen fibrills represent a specific secretory product of the stroma reticulum cells. The active involvement of the full differentiated decidua cells in steroid metabolism is indicated by characteristic transformation of the cytoplasmic organization concomittantly to the appearance of intracellular steroid dehydrogenase activities. So-called karyosoma could be demonstrated within the nuclei of postovulatory stromal reticulum cells as in decidua cells. Similar nuclear differentiations have been observed in various target cells of steroid hormones. They possibly are structural manifestations of the hormonal interaction with the nuclear DNA.