ニンシン　ショキ　ノ　マウス　シキュウ　ナイマク　ニ　オケル　macrophage inflammatory protein-1α　MIP-1α　ノ　ハツゲン　ブンプ　ヨウシキ　ノ　ケントウ

Previous studies demonstrated that the presence and distribution of macrophages in the mouse uterus is dependent on cyclical production of estrogen and progesterone and that, at the time of implantation, macrophages are very clearly increased in number especially at subepithelial area. Accumulation of macrophages in pregnant uterus appears to be caused in part by ovarian hormone-stimulated CSF-1 production and in part by others as yet unidentified uterine chemotactic factors. Recently, it was reported that macrophage inflammatory protein-1 α (MIP-1 α), one of β-chemokine subfamily whose target cells are T cells and macrophages, was expressed in mouse uterus throughout pregnancy. However, no morphological assessment has been performed yet. In this immunohistochemical study, we examined the spatio-temporal distribution of MIP-1 α positive cells in the mouse endometrium and decidua between days 0 and 8 of pregnancy, and obtained the following results. Firstly, the concentration of MIP-1 α positive cells in the periluminal area of endometrium (called primary decidua after implantation period) was low on days 0 and 3, and high on days 4 and 5, but not thereafter. Secondly, the concentration of MIP-1 α positive cells in the perimyometrial area of endometrium (called secondary decidua after implantation period) was high on days 3 to 8 thereafter. Lastly, most of MIP-1 α positive cells in the mouse endometrium during early pregnancy were macrophages. These changes of distribution of MIP-1 α positive macrophages may be involved in the successful conception in mice