Endocytotic activity in the endometrium during conceptus attachment in the cow.

The uptake of horseradish peroxidase tracer injected into the uterine lumen of the cow was studied during the period of conceptus attachment (Days 18-21; Day 0 = oestrus) and also in cyclic animals. Endocytosis occurred in pregnant and non-pregnant cows but was especially marked when circulating progesterone concentrations were high. By 20 min after injection, the tracer was located in apical endocytotic vesicles and in organelles of the lysosomal system. In addition, some of the horseradish peroxidase-containing vesicles were associated with the lateral membranes of the cells and the tracer was also present in the intercellular spaces and beneath the basal membrane, especially in pregnant animals by the time of conceptus attachment. There was no evidence that pinopod-like functions could be attributed to large cytoplasmic protrusions from endometrial cells. Rather, the protrusions seemed to be involved in secretory processes. The presence of clear vesicles among the endocytotic vesicles suggested a coupled secretory-endocytotic activity of the cells, the significance of which remains to be determined.