Proliferation and decidualization of endometrial stromal cells during embryo-attachment stage in bonnet monkeys (Macaca radiata).

We report embryo-induced alterations occurring in endometrial stromal cells (ESCs) during the embryo-attachment stage in bonnet monkeys (Macaca radiata). Laser micro-dissected ESCs obtained from pregnant and non-pregnant animals were compared for levels of selected proliferation and decidualization-associated factors by analysis with quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction or immunohistochemistry. Stromal cells exhibited extensive cellular proliferation, as indicated by cellular compaction and significantly higher (P < 0.05) levels of proliferating cell nuclear antigen and of estrogen receptor 1, c-Myc, and Cyclin D1 transcripts in pregnant animals as compared with non-pregnant animals. A significant decrease (P < 0.05) was observed in the transcript levels of stromal interleukin-6 (IL-6) in pregnant animals. Cell proliferation was accompanied by a significant increase (P < 0.001) in the levels of decidualization-associated molecules such as IL-1ß in the luminal and glandular epithelium and of stromal insulin-like growth-factor-binding protein-1 (IGFBP-1) and prostaglandin-endoperoxide synthase-2 (PTGS-2) proteins. In pregnant animals, proliferation was evident throughout the gestational stroma, whereas decidualization was more pronounced in the embryo-attachment zone than in the non-attachment zone. To our knowledge, this is the first report of alterations in the endometrial stroma during the embryo-attachment stage in a non-human primate model.

Developmental changes of seminiferous tubule in prenatal, postnatal and adult testis of bonnet monkey (Macaca radiata).

This paper is a part of our study on the male reproductive system of bonnet monkey. The developmental changes in testis of bonnet monkey were studied qualitatively and quantitatively, at the light microscopy level. Testicular development appears to primarily involve tubular growth that starts immediately after birth. There is a gradual increase in the number of tubules in the prenatal to neonatal stage in testis, without an increase in the volume. Increase in the number of tubules in the neonatal testis was achieved by an increase in the length of the tubules and reduction in the interstitial proportion. Scattered spermatogonial cells in the tubules of neonatal testis indicate the rapid growth rate of the tubules. Increase in tubular length along with diameter seems to be a continuous process until puberty. This is the first report on the developmental changes in the testis during fetal, postnatal and adult stages in the bonnet monkey.

Segregation of human neural stem cells in the developing primate forebrain.

Many central nervous system regions at all stages of life contain neural stem cells (NSCs). We explored how these disparate NSC pools might emerge. A traceable clone of human NSCs was implanted intraventricularly to allow its integration into cerebral germinal zones of Old World monkey fetuses. The NSCs distributed into two subpopulations: One contributed to corticogenesis by migrating along radial glia to temporally appropriate layers of the cortical plate and differentiating into lamina-appropriate neurons or glia; the other remained undifferentiated and contributed to a secondary germinal zone (the subventricular zone) with occasional members interspersed throughout brain parenchyma. An early neurogenetic program allocates the progeny of NSCs either immediately for organogenesis or to undifferentiated pools for later use in the "postdevelopmental" brain.