The volume of uterine fluid in 'implanting' and 'delayed implanting' mice

Abstract

A variation of the dye dilution technique was used to determine the volume of uterine fluid in 'implanting' and 'delayed implanting' mice. The method involves rinsing Krebs-Ringer-bicarbonate buffer containing [methyl-14C]methylated-BSA through the uterine lumen and using the resulting decrease in concentration of the BSA to calculate the volume of uterine fluid. The results indicated that the volume of uterine fluid was essentially the same in 'implanting' and 'delayed implanting' mice (i.e. 300-400 nl/pair of uterine horns). The total amounts of a substance recovered by rinsing the uteri would therefore provide an estimate of relative concentrations in situ.