[Connective tissue of the human fallopian tube mucosa--polarization microscopic detection of collagen using...

The Picrosirius-polarization method was applied to the selective morphological collagen detection in the human uterine tube. Solaminrot 4B (VEB Chemiekombinat Bitterfeld) was used as dyestuff which enhances the normal birefringency of collagen fibrous material in tissue sections. The results show that the connective tissue of the lamina propria mucosae consists of collagen fibres, namely considerably. The mucosal folds of uterine tubes of younger individuals contain delicate, weaker birefringent fibres stained yellowish-red and red-orange. The folds of oviducts of ageing individuals composed of compact, strong birefringent collagen fibrous material stained intensely red, red-orange, and yellow. This is characteristic of organs in the pre- and postmenopausal periods and in the senium. The findings suggest that the fibrous structures detected selectively in the oviductal mucosa by combinative method of Picrosolamin-staining and polarization microscopy are distinct collagen fibres. The delicate, weaker birefringent fibres could correspond with collagen type III and the thicker, stronger birefringent ones could represent collagen type I.