Endocrine cells in the female genital tract

Abstract

Endocrine cells are normal inhabitants of the para-urethral, Bartholin's and endocervical glands and of mesonephric rests. All these cells were characterized as serotonin-storing cells. In the para-urethral and Bartholin's glands, serotonin-containing cells were most often found in the transitional epithelium of excretory ducts. Endocrine cells participated in some pathological conditions. Abundant argentaffin cells were observed among the terminal ductules in chronic bartholinitis and serotonin-storing cells were identified in a peculiar ectocervical epithelium. Numerous serotonin-storing cells were detected in a well-differentiated adenocarcinoma of cervix occurring in a patient with the Peutz-Jeghers syndrome. Argyrophilic cells were present in cases of endometrial carcinomas; a striking feature was the demonstration of gut peptide hormones in an unusual type of endometrial adenocarcinoma. Finally, serotonin-storing cells were a constituent of Brenner tumours. It is suggested that a similar endocrine pattern may be shared by tissues originating from both Müllerian ducts and the urogenital sinus.

Neuroendocrine tumours in rare sites: differences in nomenclature and diagnostics—a rare and ubiquitous histotype

“…Normal NE cells can be detected in both exocervix and endocervix38 and a possible NE precancerous lesion has been identified in the form of hyperplasia 39. Both of these findings justify a relatively significant presence of NETs here.…”

Urogenital paraneurons in several mammals.

“…The presence of paraneurons in the normal uterus was suspected when their presence was reported in the carcinogenic endometrium of humans (USDA et al, 1980;FETISSOF et al, 1985). We have found paraneurons initially in the uterine horns of the pig and then in the same uterine segment of the horse and mouse.…”

“…Morphological studies performed in the female urogenital tract are less numerous and often describe pathological conditions such as a carcinomatous uterus. However, by means of immunohistochemical techniques, serotonin has been described in paraneurons of the normal cervix and vagina in woman (FETISSOF et al, 1985) and of the urethra and vestibulum in the dog (HANYU et al, 1987).…”

Basics of Vulval Embryology, Anatomy and Physiology

“…1.15). Argentaffin cells have been described in the epithelial lining of the Bartholin duct system predominantly in the transitional epithelium of the main excretory duct and are similarly found in the paraurethral glands (Fetissof et al 1985). The minor vestibular glands are similar in structure to those of the greater Fig.…”