Protein thiols in normal and neoplastic human uterine cervix

Protein-thiol groups that react with dihydroxydinaphthyl disulphide during a 7 h incubation (so-called reactive protein thiols, PSHr) have been quantitatively measured on sections of human uterine cervix by microcytospectrophotometry. Measurements were made on areas (1 micron 2) of epithelium and adjoining stroma in samples of normal cervix, and in samples obtained from patients with dysplasia, carcinoma-in-situ and invasive cancer. The ratio of PSHr in epithelium to stroma is substantially reduced in the pathological conditions compared with normal and in apparently normal adjacent areas. Such changes in PSHr are discussed in relation to the redox balance of the tissue, and free radical disturbances previously described.