ALKALINE PHOSPHATASE, GLYCOGEN, AND PERIODIC ACID-SCHIFF POSITIVE SUBSTANCES IN THE BOVINE UTERUS DURING THE ESTROUS CYCLE

Abstract

INTRODUCTION The general histology of the uterus of the cow was described by Schmaltz (1911) and histological changes during the course of the estrous cycle were reported by Murphey (1924), Hammond (1927), Cole (1930), Asdell (1946), Asdell et al. (1949), and Weber et al. (1948 and 1950). Thus far no histochemical findings have been reported on the bovine uterus, although numerous studies have been made on those of other species. The general distribution of alkaline phosphatase in the uterus of various species has been reported by Gomori (1941), Kabat and Furth (1941), and Wislocki and Dempsey (1945). Changes in alkaline phosphatase distribution during the estrous cycle were given for the rat by Pritchard (1949), for the human endometrium by Atkinson and Engle (1947) and Arzac and Blanchet (1948). Cyclic variation of the uteri of several species with regard to glycogen distribution has been demonstrated by many investigators (Reynolds, 1949).