Microanatomy of the female reproductive organs in menopause by scanning electron microscopy

The three-dimensional (3-D) ultrastructural features of the reproductive or gans in menopause were examined by correlated transmission and scanning ele ctron microscopy (TEM/SEM) and recorded in artificially colored images. The se methods revealed important changes in the 3-D microanatomy of the reprod uctive system due to the cessation of ovarian steroidogenesis. These change s were the following; 1)The OVARY, reduced drastically its volume and consi sted of dense connective tissue with abundant scars and thick bundles of co llagen fibers. Within the stroma of aged ovaries very thick walled vessels were typically found. The thin and fragile superficial epithelium tended to easily "slough off" in many areas of the ovarian surface. 2)The TUBES and UTERUS possessed rather similar mucosae with numerous microvillous non cili ated cells (NCCs). These cells tended to become flat, which formed characte ristic microplicae similar to those normally occurring in surface mucosae o f ectocervix and vagina, and ciliated cells (CCs) were highly reduced in nu mber.