The characterisation of Fc receptors on cells from the metrial gland of the pregnant rat uterus.

Using an EA rosetting technique on cells from the rat metrial gland at days 12--15 of pregnancy, approximately 30% of the cells were found to possess immunoglobulin (Fc) receptors. At dat 14 a comparison was made between cells from the metrial gland and cells from the peritoneal exudate; binding affinity of each for homologous and heterologous immunoglobulins was assessed by the resulting inhibition of rosette formation. Cells from the metrial gland were inhibited to a greater degree than cells from the peritoneal exudate by low concentrations of rabbit, human and rat immunoglobulin. The Fc receptors observed on cells from the metrial gland show some resemblance to those described by other workers on yolk sac cells and certain foetal placental cells, but their function is at present unknown.