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The demonstration of immunoglobulin in the metrial gland cells of the rat placenta

The large, frequently binucleate granulated cells of the metrial gland of the pregnant rat uterus have been the subject of interest for many years. They have been shown to contain glycogen (Bridgman, 1948), and their cytoplasmic granules are characterized by a diastase-fast periodic acid-Schiff reaction (Wislocki, Weiss, Burgos & Ellis, 1957) and a high content of acid hydrolases (Bulmer, 1968). A variety of functions has been attributed to them, including the provision of nutrient to the developing embryo (Selye & McKeown, 1935), the liberation of a holocrine secretion facilitating disruption of the muscle coat during the expansion of the uterine wall (Bloch, 1964), and the production of relaxin (Velardo, Dawson, Olsen & Hisaw, 1953; Dallenbach-Hellweg, Battista & Dallenbach, 1965); none of these, however, has been proven or considered generally acceptable.