THE EFFECTS OF OESTROGENS ON THE LYSOSOMES OF RAT VAGINAL EPITHELIUM; A HISTOCHEMICAL STUDY

Abstract

ABSTRACT Enzyme histochemical changes of the lysosomal enzymes (N-acetyl-β-glucosaminidase, β-glucuronidase and acid phosphatase) were investigated in the rat vaginal epithelium after oestrogen administration (oestradiol-17β and oestriol). The enhancement in the activity of the lysosomal enzymes and their diffuse appearance in the stratum granulosum of the vaginal epithelium was observed up to the cornification layer. Subsequently, the cornified layer and the uppermost epithelial cell layer were detached from the remainder of the epithelium. These phenomena were moderately well suppressed by the administration of cortisol, a lysosome stabilizer. The mechanism of formation of the cornified layer and its subsequent detachment is discussed with special reference to the lysosome labilizing effect of oestrogens.