FORENSIC VALUE OF THE LUGOL STAINING METHOD - FURTHER-STUDIES ON GLYCOGENATED EPITHELIUM IN THE MALE URINARY-TRACT

This study presents findings from a series of investigations on the pr esence of glycogenated epithelium in the male urinary tract and on the penile surface in order to assess the forensic value of the Lugol's m ethod for the identification of vaginal cells. Direct smears obtained from the urethral opening, glans penis, and penile shaft, along with p ost-mortem samples of the fossa navicularis, and histological sections of the penis were examined. The presence of polygonal, glycogenated, Lugol-positive epithelium cells in the male urinary tract was found to be common. Our results suggest that these cells originate from the fo ssa navicularis. Because of the possibility of exfoliation of glycogen ated male cells and transfer to the penile surface a Lugol-positive re action in epithelial cells on penile swabs can no longer be assumed to prove the presence of vaginal cells.