Significance of the occurrence and distribution of glycogen in cervical cells exfoliated under different physiologic and pathologic conditions.

The occurrence and distribution of glycogen was investigated in cervical cells exfoliated under different physiologic and pathologic conditions using cytochemical parameters. The conditions studied included the menstrual cycle, menopause, the reproductive cycle and neoplastic lesions of the cervix in both premenopausal and postmenopausal and postmenopausal situations. The results obtained on the localization of this carbohydrate substance offer interesting information with respect to the absence and presence of glycogen in various degrees in different cell types. The presence of glycogen seems to be linked with cellular maturation; it disappears with the loss of differentiation during neoplasia. The high glycogen content during the menstrual cycle and reproductive cycle and its absence in postmenopause indicates a specific hormonal influence. The discrepancies noted in glycogen distribution in the same or different exfoliated cells obtained from different biologic states assume significance in light of various factors governing the synthesis and utilization of this polymer.