Decidualización

Also known as GO:0046697, decidual cell reaction

thumb|right|Micrograph showing decidualization of the endometrium due to exogenous [[progesterone (oral contraceptive pill). H&E stain.]] Decidualization is a process that results in significant changes to cells of the endometrium in preparation for, and during, pregnancy. This includes morphological and functional changes (the decidual reaction) to endometrial stromal cells (ESCs), the presence of decidual white blood cells (leukocytes), and vascular changes to maternal arteries. The sum of these changes results in the endometrium changing into a structure called the decidua. In humans, the d