ENZYMORPHOLOGIC OBSERVATIONS IN THE UTERUS AND VAGINA OF CASTRATE RATS RECEIVING OVARIAN HORMONES

Abstract

The early changes in the histochemical localization of β-glucuronidase, α-naphthy esterase, acid phosphatase, alkaline phosphatase and reduced diphosphopyridine nucleotide diaphorase (DPNH-diaphorase) were investigated in the uterus and the vagina of castrate rats following treatment with 17β-oestradiol alone, and with progesterone in animals previously primed with oestradiol. Marked alterations in the intensity and location of β-glucuronidase, esterase and alkaline phosphatase occur in the vagina only two hours after the injection of oestrogen. On the other hand, the change in DPNH-diaphorase or acid phosphatase is much slower in making its appearance. Progesterone accelerates these effects in animals previously primed with small doses of oestrogen. Among the changes observed, the most characteristic are the ones occurring in the β-glucuronidase and alkaline phosphatase activities of the vagina.