title: Relationship between the maturation index and lactate dehydrogenase activity in human vaginal epithelium.
abstract: Simultaneous determinations of LDH activity in the vaginal epithelium and the maturation index of the vaginal smear were performed for 7 postmenopausal women receiving estrogen therapy and for 4 premenopausal women. Of the premenopausal women, 1 was receiving cyclic estradiol valerate-levo-norgestrel therapy; the others were menstruating regularly and had no hormone therapy. A good correlation was found between the strength of the estrogen therapy and LDH activity. In general, a positive correlation was found between a high level of LDH activity and a shift to the right in the maturation index. Where inflammation occurred, the LDH activity reflected the estrogen effect, whereas the maturation index did not do so.
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D004717:Endometrium / Q000473:pathology; D004848:Epithelium / Q000201:enzymology; D004967:Estrogens / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase / Q000378:metabolism*; D008599:Menstruation Disturbances / Q000188:drug therapy; D008875:Middle Aged; D014621:Vagina / Q000201:enzymology*; D014626:Vaginal Smears
chemical_list: D004967:Estrogens; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase