Three-dimensional observations on intermediate filaments of the squamous epithelium of the uterine cervix

The following conclusions have been drawn from electron-microscopic three-dimentional observations on the intermediate filaments (IFs) of the squamous epithelium from the uterine cervix. (1) IFs form a three-dimensional reticular network and wrap around the intracellular periphery of cells extending from the basal to the superficial layers. (2) In basal and parabasal cells, the IFs are distributed in a pattern radiating from the perinuclear location toward the cellular periphery. (3) The use of PEG-embedding method after detergent-extraction with Triton X-100 and saponin is suitable for the three-dimensional observations on IFs of stratified squamous epithelium from the uterine cervix.