EFFECTS OF A SEQUENTIAL ORAL CONTRACEPTIVE ON ENDOMETRIAL ENZYME AND CARBOHYDRATE HISTOCHEMISTRY

Histochemical studies were carried out to determine endometrial response to a sequential preparation (mestranol 100 mcg., 14 tablets, and mestranol 100 mcg. plus 1.5 mg. chlormadinone acetate, 7 tablets). A control group of patients and patients on short- and long-term sequential therapy had endometrial biopsies taken according to a prepared schedule, and these were studied by a variety of histochemical techniques, as well as usual histologic studies. The effect of the sequential contraceptive on alkaline and acid phosphatase activity in the endometrium was evaluated. There was essentially no difference in the control and study groups and acid phosphatase activity was noted throughout the menstrual cycle. Mucosubstances in the endometrial gland were evaluated by histochemical staining procedures and comparison made between the control group and patients on short- and long-term sequential therapy. There was no significant difference between the control and study groups. Acid mucins were present throughout the cycles in both groups. Sulfomucins predominated during the proliferative phase and carboxymucins predominated during the secretory phase. © 1968.