Conjunctiva is an estrogen-sensitive epithelium.
BACKGROUND
To investigate whether the conjunctival epithelium shows cyclical maturation changes during the ovarian cycle and to study the cytological appearance of the conjunctiva in postmenopausal and pregnant women.


METHODS
Fifteen menstruating women with ovulatory cycles, ten postmenopausal women, and twelve pregnant women in the second or the third trimester of their pregnancy.


METHODS
Conjunctival and vaginal smears were taken on a near-daily basis.


METHODS
The percentage of the parabasal, the intermediate and the superficial cells (Maturation Index) in each specimen was determined.


RESULTS
In the conjunctival smears of the menstruating women cyclical maturation changes were noted. These changes were parallel to those of the vaginal smears, but to a minor degree. No cyclical changes were found in either the postmenopausal women or in the pregnant women, showing an extreme shift to the left in the Maturation Index.


CONCLUSIONS
Conjunctiva appears to be a relatively estrogen-sensitive epithelium.
Second Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Aristotelian University of Thessalonoiki, Greece.
D
D
Vavilis
S
S
Maloutas
M
M
Nasioutziki
E
E
Boni
J
J
Bontis
D000328:Adult; D003228:Conjunctiva / Q000187:drug effects*; D004848:Epithelium / Q000187:drug effects; D004967:Estrogens / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008597:Menstrual Cycle; D008875:Middle Aged; D017698:Postmenopause; D011247:Pregnancy; D011262:Pregnancy Trimester, Second; D011263:Pregnancy Trimester, Third; D014626:Vaginal Smears
D004967:Estrogens