Morphological and morphometric analysis on the rabbit conjunctival goblet cells in different hormonal conditions

An altered conjunctival mucous secretion was reported in pregnancy or oral contraceptive use. Four groups of rabbits (males, dioestrous females, oestrous females, pregnant) were studied to determine whether sex and/or different physiological conditions could influence conjunctival goblet cells structure and ultrastructure. Light microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and morphometry were performed. In males and in oestrous females the intracytoplasmic secretory granules were filled with granular material, whilst in pregnant and dioestrous females the granules were formed by a more homogenous and dense secretory material. The number of goblet cells was not statistically different in the groups studied, whilst pregnant animals showed the largest mean diameter. As to the secretory granules, their mean area was larger in dioestrous females, whilst their optical density was highest in pregnant animals. These observations indicate that the morphology of conjunctival goblet cell may vary according to sex and to different physiological conditions: this may account for the peculiar mucous secretion demonstrated during pregnancy.