Tissue macrophage response in human papillomavirus infection and cervical intraepithelial neoplasia

Summary. Tissue macrophages in the uterine cervix were studied immunocytochemically with monoclonal antibody (MoAb) 3.9 which reacts with the majority of macrophages, and Ell which is specific for the C3b receptor, CR1. Samples from five normal women, six with human papillomavirus (HPV) infection and 10 with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) were tested. A small population of MoAb 3.9 positive and only occasional MoAb Ell positive macrophages were found in the normal cervix. In HPV infection and CIN there was a significant infiltration of MoAb 3.9 positive and MoAb Ell positive macrophages in both the epithelium and the stroma. The pattern of infiltration in these groups of women suggests that these macrophages were most likely to be functioning as the first line of defence against the spread of the virus infection, either through a direct anti-virus mechanism or non-specific phagocytosis.     

The effect of amniocentesis and drainage of amniotic fluid on lung development in Macacafascicularis

Summary. Amniocentesis and withdrawal of amniotic fluid was performed on pregnant monkeys ( Macaco fascicularis ) at two stages in development, either between 47 and 64, or between 85 and 95 days gestation. After birth the lungs of each infant monkey were studied using precise morphometric techniques, and compared with those in a control group of animals. The lungs after amniocentesis had alveoli of normal maturity but reduced in number and increased in size, features which both reduce the relative area for gas exchange. There was also a reduction in the number of respiratory airways. These changes occurred regardless of the time of amniocentesis, the amount of fluid removed and even if the membranes were simply punctured with no fluid removal. There is some evidence to suggest that similar sublethal effects may be present in human infants after maternal amniocentesis.     

Screening for antibodies to HTLV-III amongst the semen donors of an AID programme

Summary. This study suggests that, at the present time, AID is not likely to be a significant risk factor in the transmission of AIDS in Britain, particularly in centres which are already practising careful screening of semen donors. New facilities which are becoming available for HTLV-III screening should help to provide reassurance that semen donations are free from the virus.     

Autoreactivity in women with endometriosis

Summary. Serum samples from 71 patients with laparoscopically staged endometriosis and from 109 age-matched non-pregnant control women were tested for antibodies to nuclear, phospholipid, smooth muscle and sperm antigens. Immunoglobulin G, M and A and complement components C₃ and C₄ were measured. Prevalence of the following autoantibodies was statistically significantly greater in women with endometriosis than in the control group: antinuclear antibodies, antibodies to ribonucleoproteins, smooth muscle antibodies, lupus anticoagulant and anticardiolipin antibody. Forty-one women with endometriosis (58%) had some type of autoantibody compared with 13 controls (12%). More women in the endometriosis group had IgG and IgM levels above the normal range. This was statistically significant for IgG in women with grade 3 and for IgM in those with grade 4 endometriosis, IgG levels were significantly higher in antibody-positive women with endometriosis than in the control group. Immunoglobulin and complement component levels tended to have a positive correlation with stage of disease.     

Some new aspects of the endocrinological response to pregnancy

Summary. Serial measurements of serum progesterone, oestradiol, prolactin, human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) and human placental lactogen (hPL) have been determined in 32 healthy women at regular intervals throughout pregnancy. The data confirm previous reports that levels of these hormones vary widely between individuals at each stage of gestation, but further analyses have shown two other features: first there is a clear tendency for individuals to retain their rank in the spectrum of hormone values throughout pregnancy; second when the concentrations of the individual hormones (except hCG) are transformed to logarithmic values, the trends within individuals approximate well to straight lines during the second and third trimester of pregnancy. These findings provide a relatively simple method for describing the rates of change in the concentrations of these hormones and for examining possible relations between them. They also suggest that the quality of the maternal endocrine milieu may be determined at an early stage of gestation.