Metachromasia of the endocervical epithelium for delineating the internal os.
OBJECTIVE
To study the metachromatic stainability of the endocervical epithelium.


METHODS
Surgical specimens that included endocervical epithelium were deparaffinized and stained with toluidine blue at various pH levels and after enzyme digestion. Glycosaminoglycans were separated from endocervical tissue and analyzed by electrophoresis.


RESULTS
The endocervical epithelium stained metachromatically purple with toluidine blue in pH 4.1 buffer, but the staining disappeared after chondroitinase digestion. The electrophoretic mobility of the glycosaminoglycan fraction separated from the endocervical epithelium was compatible with nonsulfated chondroitin.


CONCLUSIONS
Endocervical epithelium was identifiable from metachromatic staining below the internal os, and the electrophoretic results of the tissue extract suggested that nonsulfated chondroitin is the main component of glycosaminoglycans in endocervical epithelium.
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Osaka City University Medical School, 1-4-3, Asahimachi, Abeno-ku, Osaka 545-8585, Japan.
K
K
Honda
O
O
Ishiko
K
K
Wakasa
S
S
Nishimura
I
I
Tatsuta
S
S
Ogita
D002584:Cervix Uteri / Q000737:chemistry / Q000166:cytology*; D002807:Chondroitin; D004063:Digestion; D004586:Electrophoresis / Q000379:methods; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000737:chemistry / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D005260:Female; D006025:Glycosaminoglycans / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D013194:Staining and Labeling; D014048:Tolonium Chloride
D006025:Glycosaminoglycans; D014048:Tolonium Chloride; D002807:Chondroitin