AUTORADIOGRAPHIC (35S) AND HISTOCHEMICAL STUDIES OF SULPHOMUCOPOLYSACCHARIDES IN THE RABBIT UTERUS, OVIDUCTS AND VAGINA

Abstract

Under the influence of estrogen, large quantities of acid sulphomucopolysaccharides are produced in the corpus endometrium of the rabbit. The acid mucopolysaccharides appear to have a lifetime of 3 days and to be excreted, after breakdown, by transudation through the epithelial cells. Progesterone blocks this estrogen-induced production of mucopolysaccharides. During the administration of estrogen or progesterone, the glands of the corpus uteri secrete a sulphuric acid mucopolysaccharide. After ovulation, the sulphomucopolysaccharides disappear from the stroma of the corpus endometrium within 3 days. At the same time, sulphomucopolysaccharides appear in the glandular cells and lumina. The cervical stroma contains a sulphuric acid mucopolysaccharide which is not subject to hormonal influence in the same manner as that of the corpus uteri. Under the influence of estrogens, the oviduct, cervix, and vagina secrete acid sulphomucopolysaccharides. None of the sulphomucopolysaccharides mentioned are sensitive to hydrolysis with testicular hyaluronidase.