Experimental evidence of secretion by mouse granulated metrial gland cells.

Granulated metrial gland cells are cytotoxic cells found in the uterine wall in pregnancy. In this study, the involvement of the cytoplasmic granules of mouse granulated metrial gland cells during cytolysis of fibrosarcoma Wehi 164 cells was investigated in vitro. Using the lectin Helix pomatia agglutinin which binds to the granule membrane, but not to the cell membrane, of mouse granulated metrial gland cells, the limiting membrane of one or more cytoplasmic granules became incorporated into the cell membrane of the granulated metrial gland cells during cytolysis of Wehi 164 cells. It is concluded that this occurs during exocytosis of the contents of the granules and describes the first experimental evidence of secretion by mouse granulated metrial gland cells.