The glycogen content of the early pregnant female hamster genital tract, the fertile conceptus and artificially-induced deciduomata.

Abstract

SUMMARY The quantitative changes in glycogen content of the hamster uterus, cervix, upper and lower vagina during the first 8 days of pregnancy were measured. The amount of glycogen in the conceptual sites on days 6, 7 and 8 was determined and compared with that of artificially induced deciduomata. The greatest concentration of glycogen was demonstrated in the tissue of the upper portion of the vagina. While no significant differences were found in the uterus, cervix and lower vagina during the time-interval investigated, significant increases in glycogen in upper vaginal tissue occurred on the 6th, 7th and 8th day of pregnancy. Uterine glycogen during the first 5 days, or the interdecidual sites on days 6, 7 and 8, did not differ significantly in their glycogen content. On day 6, when the conceptual site becomes discernible, the glycogen values were increased by 370% over the uterine levels of day 5 followed by a 28- and 31-fold increase on days 7 and 8. The glycogen content of deciduomata induced non-mechanically (saline, oil, air) or by trauma (scratching) did not differ significantly from that of the conceptual sites of normal pregnancy. These findings demonstrate that on day 6 a glycogenic stimulus is evoked which results in local stimulation of glycogen production in the decidual sites and the upper vagina. Induction of deciduomata by different procedures results in quantitatively similar amounts of the polysaccharide. The glycogenic factor, therefore (a) stimulates localized glycogen synthesis and (b) can be evoked by either natural or artificial means.