The hymen at different stages of life from birth to menopause was examined under the microscope. Each section was stained with hematoxylin and eosin, Van Gieson, Best's carmine, Orcein, PAS, Mallory's and modified Wilder technique. The modified Bodian's technique was used to stain the nerve fibers and the nerve cells.The main bulk of the hymen is formed of fibrous connective tissue, partly elastic and partly collagenous fibers. Both surfaces are covered by stratified squamous epithelium which lacks any evidence of cornification. The epithelium is thicker at the attached edge. Glycogen granules are equally present on the vaginal and on the vulvar surface.The connective tissue papillae are more numerous and more branching at the free edge and on the vaginal surface. There is no trace of glandular or muscle element.The hymen is not richly supplied with nerve fibers. No nerve cells and fibers are present at the free edge of the hymen. Nerve cells are bipolar, small in size, oval, spindle or kidney shaped. The terminal nerve fibers penetrate the epithelium in between the connective tissue papillae.In the newborn the hymen is vascular and the epithelium is thick. During pregnancy the epithelium is very thick and very rich in glycogen. At menopause the epithelium is thin and certain areas are cornified.The literature is nearly silent about the hymen except when it is imperforate or when its examination may solve a medicolegal problem. We believe a histological study using recent techniques is important for better understanding of its pathology. The latter is important particularly in relation to the problem of introitus dyspareunia when pain or difficulty during sexual intercourse is particularly experienced at the vaginal introitus. A histological study may also cast a helpful light on its development, which is still a point of controversy.
MATERIALThe material used, whether the hymen or the carunculae hymenalis, was taken from newborn, adult virgins, nullipara, multipara, pregnant women and menopausal women. The newborn were stillborn females while in virgins they were two cases of hymenectomy for psychological apareunia.
TechniqueSpecimens were fixed in 10% formol except those prepared for the modified Bodian technique.Sections of each hymen were stained with hematoxylin and eosin. Sections ANAT. REC., 149: 313-318.
The present study aimed to investigate the normal distribution of estrogen (ER%) and progesterone (PR) receptors in the different classes of the ovarian follicles of the shecamel and their relation with the serum and follicular estrogen and progesterone hormonal level. The ER% and PR were detected using an indirect immunohistochemistry method (streptavidin-biotin immunoperoxidase method). Serum and follicular hormone levels were measured by radioimmunoassay. ER% was detected at low amounts in the follicular cells of the primordial, primary follicles and corpora lutea while, detected at moderate in the secondary follicles and high in the oocytes and in the tertiary follicles. On other hand, PR was detected in low reaction in secondary follicles and tertiary follicles. Moreover, it was estimated in a moderate reaction corpora lutea and corpora albicantia and stroma cells and in a strong reaction in the blood vessels. Estrogen concentration in both follicular fluid and serum correlated negatively (not significantly) with the size of the follicle while a positive non significant correlation was found between serum progesterone and the size of the corpus luteum. Serum and follicular fluid estrogen was higher in follicles exceeding 15 mm more than the lesser follicular categories. Slight difference in the concentration of estrogen was found between follicles less than 10 mm in diameter and those between 10 -15 mm. The expression of ER and PR and the secretion of their specific hormones in the ovary of she-camel were not always correlated with the presence of the hormones.
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