Organization of desmin-containing intermediate filaments during differentiation of mouse decidual cells.

Decidualization of the mouse endometrium consists of a redifferentiation of the endometrial stromal fibroblasts. During decidualization these fibroblasts undergo growth, change of shape, multinucleation, and establishment of intercellular junctions. One feature of rodent decidual cells is the accumulation of intermediate filaments. In spite of the fact that fibroblasts normally have vimentin intermediate filaments, they acquire a large amount of desmin intermediate filaments while they undergo decidualization. The light and electron microscope immunocytochemical results of the present work show that during the initial stages of decidual transformation the desmin intermediate filaments accumulate around the nuclei, often forming caps around the nuclear envelope. As the decidual cells grow, the filaments form bundles and nets that radiate from the nuclei toward the cell surface. During the final stages of differentiation, on day 8 of pregnancy, staining of differentiated decidual cells decreases and most filaments accumulate under the cell surface. A role for intermediate filaments is suggested for decidualization of mouse endometrial cells.