The histochemical distribution of β‐galactosidase activity in the ovary and female genital tract

摘要

AbstractIn the female genital system of the rat the only organ to give a strong histochemical reaction for β‐galactosidase with the post‐coupling technique is the ovary, where strong staining occurs in the corpora lutea, the interstitial cells and some of the macrophages. In the uterus and vagina the relatively weak reaction is restricted to the epithelia, and is reduced by ovariectomy. During pregnancy the decidua shows marked activity, but in the portions of the uterus which are not involved in placentation the reaction is still restricted to the epithelium. The mucified vaginal epithelium of late pregnancy is moderately reactive. In the rabbit ovary the activity is strong, with intense staining in interstitial cells; in the ovaries of the guinea pig and monkey it is much weaker.Though β‐galactosidase is considered to be mainly lysosomal, its ovarian distribution differs in some respects from the distribution of acid phosphatase. The relative intensities of the ovarian and uterine reactions in the rat, as shown histochemically, do not appear to correspond with biochemical f