The demonstration of cells bearing Fc receptors in the metrial gland of the pregnant rat uterus

Summary Cells obtained by collagenase treatment of metrial gland tissue from rats of day 12, 13, 14 and 15 of pregnancy were examined for the presence of surface membrane receptors for immunoglobulin (Fc receptors). Using an EA rosetting technique in which sheep red blood cells (SRBC) were sensitized with a rabbit anti-SRBC immunoglobulin preparation, Fc receptors were found on a proportion of the cells. The majority of the granulated metrial gland cells were not included in the rosetting cell population, suggesting that they do not possess the type of Fc receptor detected by this method. A comparison was made between results obtained when cells were counted in suspension and those obtained from cell counts on sections of fixed material. Both methods were found to yield similar results. Acknowledgements. Our thanks are due to Dr. A.E. Wild for his generous help, both in advice and in provision of immunoglobulins and immunoglobulin fractions, to Professor D. Bulmer and Dr. S. Peel for their continued help and advice, and to the Wellcome Trust for financial support.