Quantitative analysis of endometrial stromal cells including behavioral changes related to the menstrual cycle in smear specimens.
We aimed to obtain quantitative data regarding certain characteristics of stromal cells in smear specimens of normal endometrium, including the cytological changes associated with progression through the menstrual cycle. Eleven histological and 25 cytological specimens of normal endometrium were examined immunochemically using monoclonal antibodies to vimentin and keratin by streptavidin-biotin method. As a result, we decided to use the antibody to vimentin for the differential staining of endometrial smears: cells showing positive staining to vimentin were considered stromal cells. The quantitative nuclear measurements in the smear specimens revealed that the nuclei of endometrial stromal cells were more elongated and had a more dispersed distribution than the glandular cells in the proliferative phase. Although a part of the nuclei of stromal cells became rounder in shape in the secretory phase, they were larger in size than those of glandular cells.
Minagawa
Y
Y
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tottori University School of Medicine, Yonago, Japan.
Kigawa
J
J
Ishihara
H
H
Itamochi
H
H
Terakawa
N
N
Nagami
M
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002453:Cell Cycle; D004717:Endometrium / Q000166:cytology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008597:Menstrual Cycle; D008875:Middle Aged; D017154:Stromal Cells / Q000737:chemistry / Q000166:cytology