Significance of Extensive Hyperkeratosis on Cervical/Vaginal Smears

This paper presents two advances towards the automated three-dimensional (3-D) analysis of thick and heavily-overlapped regions in cytological preparations such as cervical/vaginal smears. First, a high speed 3-D brightfield microscope has been developed, allowing the acquisition of image data at speeds approaching 30 optical slices per second. Second, algorithms have been developed to detect and segment nuclei in spite of the extremely high image variability and low contrast typical of such regions. The analysis of such regions is inherently a 3-D problem that cannot be solved reliably with conventional 2-D imaging and image analysis methods.High-Speed 3-D imaging of the specimen is accomplished by moving the specimen axially relative to the objective lens of a standard microscope (Zeiss) at a speed of 30 steps per second, where the stepsize is adjustable from 0.2 - 5μm. The specimen is mounted on a computer-controlled, piezoelectric microstage (Burleigh PZS-100, 68/μm displacement). At each step, an optical slice is acquired using a CCD camera (SONY XC-11/71 IP, Dalsa CA-D1-0256, and CA-D2-0512 have been used) connected to a 4-node array processor system based on the Intel i860 chip.

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ABSENCE OF COMPENSATORY OVARIAN HYPERTROPHY IN RATS WITH ANTERIOR HYPOTHALAMIC LESIONS

Acta Endocrinologica ◽

10.1530/acta.0.0360180 ◽

1961 ◽

Vol 36 (2) ◽

pp. 180-184 ◽

Cited By ~ 21

Author(s):

Béla Flerkó ◽

Vera Bárdos

Keyword(s):

Essential Role ◽

Ovarian Tissue ◽

Vaginal Smear ◽

Corpora Lutea ◽

Vaginal Smears ◽

Hypothalamic Area ◽

Unilateral Ovariectomy ◽

Hypothalamic Lesions ◽

Oestrogen Level ◽

Stimulation Of

ABSTRACT Absence of compensatory ovarian hypertrophy in »constant oestrus rats« from lesions in the anterior hypothalamic area suggests that nervous elements localized in this region play an essential role in the stimulation of gonadotrophin output by diminution of the blood oestrogen level. The constant vaginal oestrus after unilateral ovariectomy in the majority of animals was, however, repeatedly interrupted by vaginal smears of a dioestrous type. The appearance of a dioestrous vaginal smear in the »hypothalamic constant oestrus rats« is often associated with some luteinisation. It is assumed that diminution of the blood oestrogen level by reduction of ovarian tissue in these animals may bring about a release of LH sufficient to cause formation of corpora lutea.

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ANDROST-5-ENE-3β,17β-DIOL IN OVARY OF POST-MENOPAUSAL HYPEROESTROGENIC WOMEN

Acta Endocrinologica ◽

10.1530/acta.0.0580364 ◽

1968 ◽

Vol 58 (3) ◽

pp. 364-376 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

S. Pesonen ◽

M. Ikonen ◽

B-J. Procopé ◽

A. Saure

Keyword(s):

Ovarian Tissue ◽

Cortical Layer ◽

Vaginal Smears ◽

Incubation Experiments ◽

Cell Groups ◽

Post Menopause ◽

Reducing Activity ◽

Post Menopausal ◽

One Year

ABSTRACT The ovaries of ten patients, at least one year after the post-menopause, were incubated with two Δ5-C19-steroids and also studied histochemically. All these patients had post-menopausal uterine bleeding and increased oestrogen excretion of the urine. The urinary estimations of gonadotrophins, 17-KS, 17-OHCS and pregnanediol were carried out on all patients. Vaginal smears were read according to Papanicolaou, and the endometrium and ovaries were studied histologically. The incubation experiments indicate the presence of Δ5-3β-hydroxysteroid-dehydrogenase. When androst-5-ene-3β,17β-diol was used as precursor the formation of testosterone occurred without any concomitant production of DHA and/or androstenedione. This seems to indicate the possible role of the Δ5-pathway in the formation of testosterone by post-menopausal ovarian tissue. The histochemical reactions indicated a reducing activity on NADH, lactate and glucose-6-phosphate, in certain corpora albicantia, atretic follicles and in diffuse thecoma regions in the cortical layer of the ovary. Steroid-3β-ol-dehydrogenase and β-hydroxybutyrate-dehydrogenase were found only at the edges of certain corpora albicantia, in some individual stroma cell groups and in some atretic follicles. Our studies, both biochemical and histochemical, suggest that the observed increase in the urinary oestrogens of the patients studied might in part at least, be of ovarian origin. This opinion is also supported by the postoperative oestrogen values.

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PHYSIOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF THE PINEAL GLAND IN ANDROGEN-STERILIZED FEMALE RATS

Acta Endocrinologica ◽

10.1530/acta.0.0630667 ◽

1970 ◽

Vol 63 (4) ◽

pp. 667-678 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Russel J. Reiter

Keyword(s):

Pineal Gland ◽

Reproductive Organs ◽

Female Rats ◽

Inhibitory Influence ◽

Light Deprivation ◽

Vaginal Smears ◽

Adult Rats ◽

Androgen Treatment ◽

Postnatal Treatment ◽

Cervical Ganglia

ABSTRACT The influence of early androgen treatment, light deprivation (by blinding), pinealectomy and superior cervical ganglionectomy on the reproductive system of female rats was tested. Early postnatal treatment of rats with testosterone propionate caused adult rats to exhibit the characteristic signs of androgen sterilization; these included polyfollicular ovaries, normal-sized uteri and persistent vaginal cornification. If early androgentreated rats also were blinded the ovaries were smaller in size and contained fewer follicles, the uteri were greatly reduced in size and the incidence of vaginal oestrus was decreased by approximately 50% If in addition to blinding, androgen-sterilized animals were subjected to either removal of the pineal gland or superior cervical ganglia, the reproductive organs and the vaginal smears were indistinguishable from those of testosterone-treated rats with eyes. These data indicate that the inhibitory influence of blinding on the pituitary-ovarian axis was mediated through the sympathetic nervous system and the pineal gland. The restraining influence of light deprivation on the growth of the reproductive organs was not permanent as illustrated by the fact that if these animals were kept to 120 days of age the ovaries and uteri grew to the same level as those of pinealectomized control rats.

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The sexual cycle in the human female as revealed by vaginal smears

American Journal of Anatomy ◽

10.1002/aja.1000520402 ◽

1933 ◽

Vol 52 (S1) ◽

pp. 519-637 ◽

Cited By ~ 203

Author(s):

George N. Papanicolaou

Keyword(s):

Sexual Cycle ◽

Human Female ◽

Vaginal Smears

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Vaginal smears in the diagnosis of ovarian activity in women

American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology ◽

10.1016/0002-9378(47)90440-7 ◽

1947 ◽

Vol 53 (3) ◽

pp. 538

Author(s):

J.P. Greenhill

Keyword(s):

Ovarian Activity ◽

Vaginal Smears

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Glandular Cells in Vaginal Smears from Posthysterectomy Patients

Acta Cytologica ◽

10.1159/000333171 ◽

1997 ◽

Vol 41 (6) ◽

pp. 1701-1704 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Brent Ponder ◽

Kevin O. Easley ◽

Rosa M. Dávila

Keyword(s):

Vaginal Smears ◽

Glandular Cells

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THE 'EARLY ANDROGEN SYNDROME' IN THE GUINEA-PIG

Journal of Endocrinology ◽

10.1677/joe.0.0490277 ◽

1971 ◽

Vol 49 (2) ◽

pp. 277-291 ◽

Cited By ~ 23

Author(s):

K. BROWN-GRANT ◽

M. R. SHERWOOD

Keyword(s):

Guinea Pig ◽

External Genitalia ◽

Female Offspring ◽

Postnatal Life ◽

Vaginal Opening ◽

Vaginal Smears ◽

Short Period ◽

Luteal Tissue ◽

Pituitary Glands ◽

Androgenic Steroids

SUMMARY When testosterone propionate was administered to pregnant guinea-pigs over a short period (days 33–37) of gestation a high proportion of the female offspring exhibited a characteristic syndrome. The time of the first vaginal opening was delayed and its duration reduced. Subsequent periods of opening were fairly regular in occurrence but were shorter in duration than in normal animals; the 'cycle' length was usually slightly longer. Continuous vaginal opening was not observed but during the periods of opening, vaginal smears containing many cornified cells and no leucocytes were obtained. During the periods of vaginal opening no lordosis response to manual stimulation could be elicited nor did the animals mate when run with males. The increase in body weight was normal up to about 150 days of age and slightly, but not significantly, less than that of controls between 150 and 200 days of postnatal life. As adults some masculinization of the external genitalia was observed. At autopsy the weights of the uteri, ovaries, adrenal and anterior pituitary glands were much greater than those of control animals at any stage of the cycle. Histological examination showed that the ovaries contained many antral follicles but no luteal tissue. Enlargement of the glands and metaplastic changes in the epithelium were observed in the uteri. The pituitaries showed an excess of cells containing large, densely packed eosinophilic granules. This early androgen syndrome is compared with that produced by hypothalamic lesions in the guinea-pig and with the changes produced in other species by the administration of androgenic steroids during prenatal or early postnatal life.

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