[Biomorphosis of human fallopian tube mucosa; contribution to the problem of morphology and aging of the uterine tubes. III. Quantitative morphological findings, discussion, literature]

Abstract

Relating to the present histochemical and quantitative-morphological findings on the biomorphosis of the human tubal mucosa, the morphological changes of the lamina epithelialis proceeding in the woman's regressive age can be summarized as follows: 1. For as long as follicle growth and development of corpora lutea are evident in the ovaries, cyclic changes of the tubal epithelium may be also noticed in the period of the premenopausal age. However, in this phase of life an advancing epithelial dedifferentiation and dissociated epithelial reaction, respectively, are developing. The latter process is characterized by the fact, that an increase of histochemical different cell groups can be observed. Especially, oncocyte-like ciliated cells are striking. In the oviducts of aging women, at the age of 45 to 50, the height of the epithelium is on the average greater than the one in the organs of younger women. The height is reaching its "maximum" perimenopausally (short time before and after menopause). 2. Individual degenerative epithelial transforming and regressive processes are taking place, and different rapidly these processes result in a low dedifferentiated and inactive tissue. When the ovarial function cease, then the tubal epithelium are very rapidly formed to a flattened lamina, which contain reactive and unreactive cells arranged side by side in groups or singular. These cells may be visualized up to the high age. Contrary to this, it is possible to exhibit proliferative epithelia consisting of high cylindric ciliated and unciliated cells in other groups of oviducts still many years after menopause. The persistence of such an epithelium existing up to the high postmenopausal age are appreciated as a steroidhormone effect. At the beginning of the menopausal time secretory differentiated epithelia are also evident. 3. It is postulated, that the biomorphotic changes of the human tubal mucosa are decisively dependent on the functional and structural biomorphosis of the female endocrinium. The tubal epithelium adapt to humoral situation, structurally and functionally. An experimental ascertainable sensitivity to hormones exists up to the senium, so that still stimulated epithelia can be also induced in this phase of life. It is permitted to consider the hyperplastic and oncocytes-like epithelia as structural changes of aging, which are proceeding independent of endocrine function. 4. A loss of function, differentiation and sensitivity to hormones characterize the result of aging of the tubal epithelium.