title: A microprobe study of element distribution in vaginal epithelial cells of the rat.
abstract: Microprobe analysis of vaginal epithelial cells shed during the estrous cycle of the rat was done to determine cellular elements present in successive stages: pro-estrus, estrus, and post-estrus. Smears of vaginal contents were placed on carbon planchettes, fixed by freeze-drying, and examined in a scanning microscope with an energy dispersive spectrometer. Concentrations of Na, Mg, P, S, Cl, K, and Ca were calculated (mmol/kg dry weight) and analyzed statistically. For phosphorus a significant fall at estrus correlates with a loss of nuclear and cytoplasmic nucleic acids and nucleoproteins. An increase in sulfur at estrus is consistent with an accumulation of keratins over pro-estrus and a greater increase over the post-estrus epithelial cells. The epithelial cells of pro-estrus are highest in Mg and Ca. By post-estrus, the cells have recovered their Mg, not Ca. Potassium concentrations exhibited no significant change between the successive stages.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Biology, College of Dentistry, University of Illinois at Chicago, 801 S. Paulina, m/c 690, Chicago, IL 60612, USA.
authors.forename: Hubert R
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Catchpole
authors.forename: Milton B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Engel
authors.forename: Steven L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Jordan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D004971:Estrus / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning / Q000379:methods; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D014621:Vagina / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure*