Metachromasia in the exfoliated vaginal cells of Awassi ewes

Abstract

Smears from exfoliated vaginal cells of eight Awassi ewes were obtained from the animal farm of Veterinary College, Baghdad University during 2007. The smears were stained with Methylene blue and examined under light microscope. The present results clearly indicated that, through its upward migration, the vaginal epithelial cells undergo shifting in colour of both cytoplasm and nucleus, metachromasia. This may related to the different amount of glycogen loaded in the cells and the different amount of keratohylin which occupied the cell gradually and the pH of these cells after invasion with the endogens lactobacillus normally found in the vagina.