Equine Reproduction and Stud Medicine Q&A 08

This question was provided by Manson Publishing as part of the OVAL Project. See more Equine Reproduction and Stud Medicine questions

A close up view of a mare's endometrium is given:

Question	Answer		Article
What are the important structures shown and what was the likely stage of gestation in this mare?	The structures are mature endometrial cups. The mare was likely to be between 50 and 100 days of gestation.		Link to Article
What is their gross appearance and location?	Endometrial cups are irregular in shape and vary tremendously in size from 1 cm in diameter, to as long as 5–10 cm. Note the honey-like material present in the depression of the cups; this material is a mixture of debris and secretion of the endometrial glands and cups. The cups are arranged in a circle at the base of the gravid uterine horn.		Link to Article
Are they found in the placenta at term?	No, by about day 130 sloughing of the cups is usually complete. The debris from the sloughing of the cup may become enclosed in the allantochorion, forming the allantochorionic pouches which can be up to 2 cm long. These pouches can occasionally be present in the placenta at term.		Link to Article