Uterine gland

Uterine glands or endometrial glands are tubular glands, lined by a simple columnar epithelium, found in the functional layer of the endometrium that lines the uterus. Their appearance varies during the menstrual cycle. During the proliferative phase, uterine glands appear long due to estrogen secretion by the ovaries. During the secretory phase, the uterine glands become very coiled with wide lumens and produce a glycogen-rich secretion known as histotroph or uterine milk.[1][2] This change corresponds with an increase in blood flow to spiral arteries due to increased progesterone secretion from the corpus luteum. During the pre-menstrual phase, progesterone secretion decreases as the corpus luteum degenerates, which results in decreased blood flow to the spiral arteries. The functional layer of the uterus containing the glands becomes necrotic, and eventually sloughs off during the menstrual phase of the cycle.

Uterine glands
Vertical section of mucous membrane of human uterus. (Glands labeled at center right.)
Diagrammatic section through an implanted blastocyst in the endometrium showing uterine glands ug.
Details
Identifiers
Latinglandulae uterinae
TA98A09.1.03.028
TA23522
FMA71647
Anatomical terminology

They are of small size in the unimpregnated uterus, but shortly after impregnation become enlarged and elongated, presenting a contorted or waved appearance.

Function
Fetal-maternal interface showing uterine milk

Hormones produced in early pregnancy stimulate the uterine glands to secrete a number of substances to give nutrition and protection to the embryo and fetus, and the fetal membranes.[1] These secretions are known as histiotroph, alternatively histotroph, and also as uterine milk.[1][2] Important uterine milk proteins are glycodelin-A, and osteopontin.[1]

Some secretory components from the uterine glands are taken up by the secondary yolk sac lining the exocoelomic cavity during pregnancy, and may thereby assist in providing fetal nutrition.[3]

Additional images
  • Primary chorionic villi. Diagrammatic.
    Primary chorionic villi. Diagrammatic.
  • Secondary chorionic villi. Diagrammatic.
    Secondary chorionic villi. Diagrammatic.

References

Public domain This article incorporates text in the public domain from page 1262 of the 20th edition of Gray's Anatomy (1918)

  1. Burton, GJ; Cindrova-Davies, T; Turco, MY (December 2020). "Review: Histotrophic nutrition and the placental-endometrial dialogue during human early pregnancy". Placenta. 102: 21–26. doi:10.1016/j.placenta.2020.02.008. PMID 33218574. S2CID 214025290.
  2. Kelleher, AM; DeMayo, FJ; Spencer, TE (1 October 2019). "Uterine Glands: Developmental Biology and Functional Roles in Pregnancy". Endocrine Reviews. 40 (5): 1424–1445. doi:10.1210/er.2018-00281. PMC 6749889. PMID 31074826.
  3. Burton GJ, Watson AL, Hempstock J, Skepper JN, Jauniaux E (June 2002). "Uterine glands provide histiotrophic nutrition for the human fetus during the first trimester of pregnancy". J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab. 87 (6): 2954–9. doi:10.1210/jcem.87.6.8563. PMID 12050279.
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