Studies on uterine flushings in the baboon: I. Method of collection, cellular composition, and protein electrophoretic profiles in animals with and without intrauterine contraceptive devices

Abstract

A method is outlined for obtaining uterine flushings per vaginam from adult baboons without the need for laparotomy. Evidence for the validity of the flushing technique is given. The effects of intrauterine contraceptive devices (IUD's) on the cellular and protein composition (determined by disc electrophoresis in polyacrylamide) of the flushings obtained by this method are described. Polymorphonuclear leukocytes and, to a lesser extent, mononuclear cells were present more frequently and in increased numbers in animals with IUD's. The disc electrophoretograms of the flushings did not differ markedly either between individual baboons or after insertion of an IUD. A system for coding the protein band patterns found in flushings is described; a maximum of 18 bands was observed. Most, but not all, bands were present in blood plasma. One of the uterine-specific proteins may be identical with the glycoprotein previously demonstrated in tubal fluid of women and monkeys. An extra protein band tended to appear in baboon uterine flushings collected after ovulation. Blastokinin does not seem to occur in the uterine fluid of baboons.