A Study of Histochemical Characteristics of Mucosubstances in  Normal Endocervical Glands

Authors

Mucosubstances, Special stains, Cervical mucins ,Normal.

Background: The apical epithelial surfaces of mammalian respiratory, gastrointestinal, and reproductive

tracts are coated by mucus, a mixture of water, ions, glycoproteins, proteins, and lipids. Mucins are mainly

of two types- Neutral and Acidic. Mucus plays an important role in reproductive function and defence of

the female reproductive tract. Objectives: To know the mucin distribution in normal endocervical glands.

Methodology: This is a retrospective, observational , analytical, case control study aimed to evaluate mucin

histochemical pattern in normal endocervical glands. Ten histologically proven blocks of normal endocervical

glands were taken. Tissue sections were stained by, PAS, PAS-diastase, Phenylhydrazine-PAS, Alcian blue

pH 2.5, Alcian Blue pH 1, combined Alcian blue-PAS, Aldehyde fuschin and combined Aldehyde fuchsin

Alcian blue techniques. Results: Results were tabulated according to colour intensity into different grades

ranging from + to ++++. Regarding mucin histochemistry of normal endocervical glands; the epithelium

and glands show mixture of both neutral and acidic mucins. Acidic mucins are more in amount than neutral.

In acidic mucins, sialomucins are predominantly seen. Conclusion: Mucin histochemical patterns serve as

valuable, cost-effective tool for diagnosis in histopathology and for the researchers in histology, where a

slight change in the mucin pattern may help in the early diagnosis of the disease process.

1Assistant Professor, Department of Anatomy, 2Assistant Professor, Department of Obstretics and Gynaecology,

3Professor and Head, Department of Obstretics and Gynaecology, 4 Assossiate Professor, Department of Anatomy,

KIMS, Deemed To Be University, Karad and Maharashtra