THE CYCLIC CHANGES OF THE LYMPH VESSELS IN THE UTERUS OF THE MOUSE WHICH HAS BEEN PREGNANT

Abstract

When adapted to the natural possibility of reabsorption
of the uterus, using the dye Patent Blue Violet
and Japanese ink, the orthograde demonstration of
the cyclical behaviour of the lymphatics during the
oestrus cycle was successful even with parous mice.
As investigations have already shown in nulliparous
mice (5), the characteristic variations in all five stages
of the sexual cycle arc also found here:
As a result of the pregnancies the lymphatics of the
endometrium are more strongly developed, in contrast
to the nulliparous mouse. However, in the
stage of pre-oestrus and oestrus the marked or very
marked widening, of varying calibre does not show
in such a striking way. In the subsequent two stages
of the sexual cycle prominent elevations are found
in the lumen of the uterus, and these have lymphatic
capillaries running in them. The further stage, a more
or less reticulate arrangement of the lymphatic
capillaries, with fine branching ramifications, is
equally typical.
As a result of the pregnancies, the larger lymphatic
vessels are often curled up like a cork-screw, and
also show their typical beaded appearance.