ULTRASTRUCTURAL, CYTOCHEMICAL, AND AUTORADIOGRAPHIC STUDY OF THE MUCOUS-MEMBRANE OF THE HUMAN CERVICAL CANAL WITH REFERENCE TO SUBCOLUMNAR BASAL CELLS

  • 1 January 1979
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 95  (1) , 1-+
Abstract
A detailed ultrastructural examination of the human endocervix with evidence for the differentiation of subcolumnar basal cells into mucus-secreting cells and ciliated columnar cells is described. Cytochemical studies in which peroxidate activity was used indicate that there are 2 cell types in the endocervical mucosa which can be distinguished by different reaction product localization. Estrogen sensitivity may account for the differences. Autoradiographic studies show that glandular cells and subcolumnar basal cells synthesize DNA in premenopausal and postmenopausal women. In addition, subcolumnar basal cells actively synthesized RNA, reflecting their ability for further growth and development.