Electron microscopy of the endometrium of camels in normal and some diseased conditions.

Ultrastructure of the camel's endometrium in normal and diseased conditions, was studied using the electron microscope. The samples were obtained from 6 normal uteri and 10 uteri with inflammatory lesions. Three ovaries of the latter 10 uteri showed ovarian cysts. All the animals were non-pregnant. No cyclic changes were taken in consideration because the camel is an induced ovulator animal. The surface and the glandular epithelium of the normal uteri consisted of one layer of tall columnar cells, resting on an undulating membrane. The free borders of cells showed microvilli, motile cilia and zeiotic blebs. Desmosomes and gap junctions were seen as means of connections between the neighboring cells. The nuclei were large, oval and situated in the lower half of the cells. Two types of mitochondria were seen. One type was small, rounded and dilated, and the other was large and elongated. Many lipid droplets and scanty glycogen granules were common findings in the normal cells. Granulated bodies similar to those described in the epithelium of the human uterus and containing acid phosphatase were found. Many other cytoplasmic organelles and granules were seen. The endometrial stroma consisted mainly of stromal cells of irregular shape, and collagen fibres. The collagen fibres were present in amounts larger than many other species. In the diseased uteri, the changes in the epithelium consisted mainly of hyperplasia of the cells and marked increase of all cytoplasmic inclusions and vacuoles. There was also marked increase in the number of the crossing lymphocytes through the epithelial layer. The collagen fibres of the stroma increased in amount and the stromal cells became similar in shape to the fibroblasts. A large number of mast cells as well as other types of inflammatory cells infiltrated the stroma. Non-specific bacterial infections were detected on bacteriological examination of the inflamed uteri. Neither bacteria nor other microbial agents could be seen ultrastructurally. In an uterus associated with ovarian cysts, the microvilli of its epithelium showed marked changes in their shape and length.