Mucin Histochemistry of Endocervix in Health and Disease

摘要

Introduction: Mucus plays an important role in reproductive function and defence of the female reproductive tract. Alterations in mucus quantity and quality are related to physiological and pathological changes of female reproductive tract. Aim: To study the specific types of endocervical mucin using standard histochemical stains in, proliferative phase of the menstrual cycle, secretory phase of the menstrual cycle, non-neoplastic lesions of the cervix and neoplastic lesions of the cervix. Materials and Methods: Prospective study was conducted over a period of two years from September 2012 to August 2014. All cervical biopsies as well as cervices from hysterectomy specimens received at Department of Pathology at MVJMC and RH was taken for the study. Corresponding endometrial bits were also taken to assess the menstrual cycle phasing. Thirty cases from the proliferative phase and 30 cases from the secretory phase of menstrual cycle. Thirty cases from non-neoplastic cervical lesions and 15 cases from neoplastic cervical lesions. On each cervical biopsy six sections were cut and mucin histochemistry was carried out. Mucin staining was graded as +, ++, +++. Data was entered in Microsoft excel 2010 and statistics was analysed using SPSS version 16.0. The p-value was obtained by chi-square test. Results: Acid mucin was predominant in proliferative phase; neutral mucin was predominant in secretory phase. In inflammatory lesions mucin produced was variable. Among the neoplastic cases one squamous cell carcinoma showed mucin secretion which was reclassified as adenosquamous carcinoma of cervix. Among the acid mucins produced, it was found that carboxylated and weakly sulphated mucin was secreted predominantly. Conclusion: Histochemical study of endocervical mucins yielded different types of mucin in the proliferative and secretory phases. Carboxylated mucin was predominant in inflammatory states and sulphated mucin was a component of cervical polyp. Adenosquamous carcinoma can be detected more easily.