WATER AND ELECTROLYTE COMPOSITION OF DECIDUAL TISSUE OF THE RAT UTERUS

Abstract

ABSTRACT Studies were made of H2O, Na, K, and Cl in rat uteri with and without deciduoma and in uteri from ovariectomized rats. Samples of whole uterus, endometrium and myometrium were obtained. The proportion of endometrium increased from 6.6 % to 27.2 % when deciduoma were present. Uterine horn weight increased from about 300 mg to over 900 mg. With the development of deciduoma the following effects occurred in whole uterus and myometrium: H2O content increased about 3.5 %. Na and Cl increased 22 % on a dry weight basis, although there were no differences when based upon wet weight. K increased 16 % on a wet weight and 40 % on a dry weight basis. The water and electrolyte content of uteri from ovariectomized rats was very similar to that of uteri without deciduoma. Endometrium could only be obtained from uteri with decidual tissue. H2O, Na, and Cl were about equal to the concentrations in whole uterus with deciduoma, but K was considerably higher than that observed in whole uterus. The ionic changes which the rat uterus exhibits during the development of deciduoma are characteristic of tissue growth. Similar changes have been observed in uterine growth under the influence of progesterone in the rabbit and the cow.