An Electron Microscopic Study on the Effect of Hypokalemia in Endometrial Epithelium of Rat Uterus.
- Author:
Hyun Jin SHIN
1
;
Kwang Il NAM
;
Chang Seok OH
;
Kyu Youn AHN
;
Choon Sang BAE
;
Baik Yoon KIM
;
Sung Sik PARK
Author Information
1. Department of Anatomy, Chonnam University Medical School, Korea.
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Hypokalemia;
Uterine epithelium;
Apoptosis;
TUNEL stain;
Ultrastructure
- MeSH:
Animals;
Apoptosis;
Cytoplasm;
Diet;
Epithelial Cells;
Epithelium*;
Hypokalemia*;
In Situ Nick-End Labeling;
Microscopy, Electron;
Microvilli;
Potassium;
Rats*;
Tolonium Chloride;
Uterus*
- From:Korean Journal of Anatomy
1999;32(3):339-348
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
To investigate morphologic alterations in the rat uterine epithelium after chronic potassium depletion, light and electron microscopic studies were made in rats fed a potassium-free diet for 2 weeks. The uterine epithelium was simple columnar and the uterine gland was simple cuboid cells in toluidine blue staining. In experimental uterus, the epithelial cells contain many brownish granules in the supranuclear and basal cytoplasm. The cells containing dense body with pale halo appeared occasionally among the epithelial cells. By TUNEL staining, more positive cells were observed in experimental uterus than those in control group. By electron microscopy, uterine epithelial cells of control rat had short, irregular microvilli and a few apical vesicles and cytoplasm. Increased microvilli, apical vesicles and fat droplets were observed in uterine epithelial cells of the experimental rat. Apoptotic cells or cells containing apoptotic bodies were sometimes present among the epithelial cells. These results indicate that morphological alterations in the rat uterine epithelium are occurred at chronic potassium depletion, and suggest that hypokalemia may induce apoptosis of uterine epithelium.
