CONJUNCTIVA IS AN ESTROGEN-SENSITIVE EPITHELIUM

Background To investigate whether the conjunctival epithelium shows cy clical maturation changes during the ovarian cycle and to study the cy tological appearance of the conjunctiva in postmenopausal and pregnant women. Patients. Fifteen menstruating women with ovulatory cycles, te n postmenopausal women, and twelve pregnant women in the second or the third trimester of their pregnancy. Interventions. Conjunctival and v aginal smears were taken on a near-daily basis. Main outcome measures. The percentage of the parabasal, the intermediate and the superficial cells (Maturation Index) in each specimen was determined. Results. In the conjunctival smears of the menstruating women cyclical maturation changes were noted. These changes were parallel to those of the vagin al smears, but to a minor degree. No cyclical changes were found in ei ther the postmenopausal women or in the pregnant women, showing an ext reme shift to the left in the Maturation Index. Conclusion. Conjunctiv a appears to be a relatively estrogen-sensitive epithelium.