Elastase involvement in extracellular and intracellular collagen degradation during postpartum involution of the uterus.

Abstract

The location of elastase in rat uterus during its postpartum involution was studied by electron histochemical method. Intense extracellular activity of the enzyme was detected: the reaction product was found on the cytolemma of smooth-muscle cells and, to a lesser extent, on the cytolemma of macrophages and fibroblasts and on adjacent collagen fibrils. The reaction product was also found in vacuoles with collagen in macrophages and fibroblasts.