Open Access

ARTICLE

Extracellular breakdown of collagen by mice decidual cells. A cytochemical and ultrastructural study

SIMA GODOSEVICIUS KATZ

Department of Histology, School of Medicine, Federal University of São Paulo. São Paulo, SP, BRAZIL.
Address correspondence to: Dra. Sima Godosevicius Katz. Department of Histology, School of Medicine, Federal University of São Paulo. Rua Botucatu, 740 (Ed. Lemos Torres, 2ºa). São Paulo, CEP 04023-900. SP, BRAZIL. E-mail: simagkatz.morf@epm.br / srskatz@uol.com.br

BIOCELL 2005, 29(3), 261-270. https://doi.org/10.32604/biocell.2005.29.261

Abstract

The interaction of antimesometrial decidual cells and collagen fibrils was studied by light microscopy and ultrastructural cytochemistry in fed and acutely fasted mice on days 9-11 of pregnancy.
Fibrillar elements in the extracellular space consisted of collagen fibrils and filamentous aggregates (disintegrating collagen fibrils). Intracellular vacuoles exhibited typical collagen immersed in electron-translucent material (clear vacuoles) and faint cross-banded collagen immersed in electron-opaque material (dark vacuoles).
Fibrillar elements showed extracellular acid phosphatase activity which was stronger in the region of mature decidua than in predecidual cells region in all animals; it was conspicuous in mature decidua of fasted animals. Intracellular acid phosphatase activity was observed in dark vacuoles and lysosomes, and was absent in clear vacuoles in all cells studied.
Since acid phosphatase activity reflects the presence of lysosomal hydrolases in general, the results indicate that breakdown of extracellular collagen occurs by release of lysosomal enzymes by decidual cells and also by internalization of collagen for intracellular degradation in fed and fasted mice. Collagen breakdown may be part of the process of tissue remodeling in mature and predecidual regions, however, in mature decidua, collagen breakdown is enhanced and may therefore contribute to nutrition of the fetus, specially in acutely fasted mice.

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