An ultrastructural, cytochemical, and autoradiographic study of the mucous membrane of the human cervical canal with reference to subcolumnar basal cells.

This study presents a detailed ultrastructural examination of the human endocervix with evidence for the differentiation of subcolumnar basal cells into mucus-secreting cells and ciliated columnar cells. Cytochemical studies in which peroxidatic activity was used indicate that there are two cell types in the endocervical mucosa which can be distinguished by different localization of reaction product. It may be that estrogen sensitivity accounts for such differences. Autoradiographic investigations demonstrated that glandular cells and subcolumnar basal cells synthesize DNA in premenopausal and postmenopausal women. In addition, subcolumnar basal cells actively synthesized RNA, reflecting their ability for further growth and development.