FLOW CYTOMETRIC ANALYSIS OF LEUKOCYTES IN THE HUMAN FEMALE REPRODUCTIVE-TRACT - COMPARISON OF FALLOPIAN-TUBE, UTERUS, CERVIX, AND VAGINA

PROBLEM: The tissues of the human female reproductive tract (Fallopian tube, uterus, cervix, and vagina) may play different roles in the pro vision of mucosal immunity. The purpose of this study was to develop a uniform method suitable for quantitative comparison of the leukocytes from all these tissues. METHOD OF STUDY: Tissues, typically 0.5-1.0 g , were dispersed by enzyme treatment. A flow cytometric gating procedu re based on CD45-positivity and low far-red autofluorescence permitted unfractionated, freshly dispersed cells to be phenotyped with respect to T lymphocytes, B lymphocytes, macrophages, and granulocytes. RESUL TS: Reproductive tract tissues contain leukocytes that represent appro ximately 6-20% of the total number of cells, with the Fallopian tubes and uterus containing a higher proportion of leukocytes than the cervi x and vagina. The uterine endometrium from postmenopausal women has fe wer leukocytes than does uterine endometrium from pre-menopausal women . T lymphocytes are a major constituent (30-60%) of leukocytes from al l tissues. The Fallopian tube contains granulocytes as another major c onstituent; granulocytes are significantly less numerous in the other tissues. All tissues contain B lymphocytes and macrophages as clearly detectable but minor components. CONCLUSIONS: Three-color flow cytomet ry is an appropriate method for quantitative comparison of leukocytes from the different tissues of the female reproductive tract, during al l phases of the menstrual cycle and within post-menopausal samples. Re sults indicate that the tissues differ from each other, particularly w ith respect to the large number of granulocytes in the Fallopian tubes .