Immunocytological studies on an estradiol sensitive antigen in the cervicovaginal epithelium of neonatal mice

Postnatal development of the cervical epithelium in the Mongolian gerbil

This study analyzes the postnatal development of the Mongolian gerbil's cervical epithelium, in relation to its future functions. In the newborn gerbil the outline of the cervical canal is smooth, showing hardly any signs of folding. The epithelium consists of 1 to 3 layers. The cervical cells have rounded apices of regular outline and contain a large amount of glycogen. The first secretory products of specific mucus type appear about day 23 postnatally (p.n.). Initially two types of vesicles can be identified, as compared with only one type in sexually mature animals. The process of mucification begins in the vagina and the external os of the cervix and spreads towards the cervical horns. The cervical canal, besides growing longer, becomes increasingly folded during development. At about day 50 p.n., with the onset of sexual maturity, an upper endocervix and a lower ectocervix can be distinguished within the cervical canal. In the fully mature animal, the endocervix consists of 4 to 5 layers, in which apical cells mucify and exfoliate. In the ectocervix, the epithelium can be divided into 4 to 5 basal layers and 5 to 7 upper layers which mucify, keratinize, and exfoliate, according to the cyclic phases of the vagina. Diapedesis of leucocytes through the epithelium starts around day 45 p.n.

Ferritin-labeling of antibodies by glutaraldehyde. Comparison of conjugates prepared at different antibody: ferritin: glutaraldehyde ratios

Optimal molar ratios of antibody: ferritin: glutaraldehyde for the preparation of antibody-ferritin conjugates were investigated. The reaction volumes and the antibody concentration were held constant in twenty different reaction mixtures. The effect of five different antibody: glutaraldehyde ratios ranging from 1:25 to 1:400 and of four different antibody: ferritin ratios (1:1 to 1:01) on the yield of antibody-ferritin conjugates was tested in one-step reactions. The 20 different conjugates were tested by a newly developed gel precipitation technique, the inverse fused line rocket immunoelectrophoresis and by counting relative numbers of ferritin monomers and oligomers under the electron microscope. High concentrations of glutaraldehyde produced large heterogeneous precipitates as visualized in the gel technique. The relatively highest yield of ferritin-labeled antibodies without larger conjugates was produced by reacting antibodies, ferritin and glutaraldehyde at molar ratios of 1:1:100. The FRT-antibody conjugates produced at these molar ratios were partly abe to precipitate with their respective antigens.