Crystalline bodies in cervicovaginal smears. A cytochemical and immunochemical study.

Of 35,000 consecutive cervicovaginal smears examined, 111 were found to contain crystalline bodies with a radiate structure. Ninety-seven of these 111 smears had been obtained from pregnant women. The crystalline bodies were generally found in the cervical mucus portion of the smears and were evoking a considerable inflammatory reaction around them. Histochemical and immunochemical stains indicated that they are primarily composed of protein-carbohydrate complexes of a nonimmune type. In an attempt to determine the site of formation of the crystalline bodies during pregnancy, cervical biopsies available in six of the above cases were examined for crystalline bodies, with positive results in one nonpregnant case. Furthermore, 500 endometria from cases of interrupted pregnancies were examined for the presence of such structures, with negative results. It appears that crystalline bodies in smears from pregnant women are formed from products of degenerated inflammatory and other exfoliated cells within stagnating cervical secretions and primarily within dilated cervical glands. In this respect, they are similar or identical to the pseudoactinomycotic radiate granules or pseudosulfur granules reported in histologic sections of the uterus and other regions of the body. Further studies are needed to conclusively determine the site and mechanisms of formation of these structures.