ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To determine whether treatment with lipiodol alters the leukocyte population in the uterus. DESIGN: Randomized controlled animal study. SETTING: University research laboratory. ANIMAL(S): Sixty female Swiss white mice at proestrous. INTERVENTION(S): Infusion of the female reproductive tract with lipiodol versus infusion with saline versus sham treatment. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Counts of uterine macrophages, dendritic cells, and total leukocytes assessed by immunohistochemistry. RESULT(S): No statistically significant differences were found in the mean number of total leukocytes or macrophages between the three treatment groups. The mean number of CD205+ dendritic cells showed a statistically significant decrease following lipiodol treatment compared with the sham treatment and saline treatment. The mean number of CD1+ dendritic cells showed a statistically significant increase following lipiodol treatment compared with the sham treatment. CONCLUSION(S): Intrauterine lipiodol infusion is associated with a change in the uterine dendritic cell populations in mice. This change may alter the uterine immune response to the fetus, leading to improved fertility.
