Effects of long-term implantation of vaginal concretions on the cervicovaginal epithelium of mice.
In two experiments, neonatal female BALB/cCrgl or BALB/cfC3HCrgl mice were given subcutaneous injections of 5 micrograms 17 beta-estradiol or sesame oil for the first 3 days of life and were ovariectomized at 60 days of age, at which time vaginal concretions (Experiments I and II) or silica (Experiment II) were implanted intravaginally. Mice were examined at 12 months of age. Three abnormal cervicovaginal epithelial responses were noted: persistent vaginal stratification/cornification (PVS); prominent vaginal squamocolumnar junction (SCJ); epithelial pegs, downgrowths, or lesions (dysplasias). PVS, not present in unimplanted controls, occurs in at least half of the members of the neonatally estrogen-treated groups; implants of concretions or silica did not increase its incidence significantly. Although SCJ was observed in implanted but not in unimplanted controls, its incidence was significantly higher in neonatally estrogen-treated mice than in either control group. The elevated incidence in neonatally estrogen-treated mice was not increased further by implantation of concretions or silica. In neonatally estrogenized mice, the subsequent implantation of a concretion significantly increased the incidence of cervicovaginal abnormalities. Increased PVS and SCJ are teratological consequences of neonatal exposure to a small amount of estrogen; on the other hand, increased dysplasias may, in part, be responses of the estrogenized vaginal epithelium to the concretions.
D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D002137:Calculi / Q000473:pathology*; D002369:Castration; D002584:Cervix Uteri / Q000473:pathology; D004848:Epithelium / Q000473:pathology; D004958:Estradiol / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008809:Mice, Inbred C3H; D014621:Vagina / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D014623:Vaginal Diseases / Q000473:pathology*
D004958:Estradiol