Enzymorphology of rat vagina during the oestrous cycle; beta-glucuronidase.

Abstract

ABSTRACT The localization of β-glucuronidase activity was studied in the vagina of Wistar rats at different stages of the oestrous cycle by enzymorphology. At dioestrus, the reaction of β-glucuronidase was located with moderate intensity in the superficial cell layer of atrophied vaginal epithelium. During the following stages of the cycle, however, the enzyme reaction completely changed its localization in the epithelium, and was most intense in the germinal layer. At early oestrus, the enzyme reaction was characteristically restricted to the germinal layer and was very slight or negative in other luminal layers of the mucosa. The intensity lessened at full oestrus. The more intense enzyme reaction constantly shown by desquamated vaginal cells in the lumen as compared to those corresponding cells in intact epithelium should be attributed to the enzyme released from granules in these presumably degenerating cells.