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Samples of endometrium were examined histologically in 161 female patients with endometrial hyperplasia or mastopathy. Moreover, LH, FSH, prolactin, testosterone, and dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate levels were assayed in 51 patients. Mastopathy was found in 36.8% of patients with endometrial hyperplasia. An estimate risk of mastopathy within 13 years following a diagnosis of endometrial hyperplasia is 33%. Endometrial hyperplasia accompanied mastopathy in 24.8% of cases, and an estimated risk of endometrial hyperplasia within 21 years following a diagnosis of mastopathy is 37%. Hormonal status of patients with endometrial hyperplasia-mastopathy is similar to that in patients with endometrial and breast cancer. The authors suggest that both endometrial hyperplasia and mastopathy should be considered markers of the risk of uterine and breast cancer.

Among the group of 367 women with ovarian cancer, 11 prognostic factors were examined. Eight of the factors had an important prognostic value regarding the longterm (5 and 10 years) survivals of ovarian cancer patients. There were the following significant prognostic factors: histological type, the degree of differentiation of the tumour, clinical stage, ascites, overgrowth of the capsule, or infiltration of the ovary surface, irregular shape of the tumour, cancer in both ovaries, and solid type of the tumour. The best prognosis was obtained for patients with mucous type of cancer (53.3%-5 and 26.7%-10 years survival). The poorest prognosis was obtained for the group of patients with undifferentiated cancers, respectively, 11.8 and 3.6%.

Estrogen receptor (ER) and progestin receptor (PR) levels in the myometria and uterine leiomyomata of forty-four women were studied. A radio-ligand method and an immuno-enzymatic method were used for ER measurement, and only a radio-ligand method was used for PR measurement. The leiomyomata contained significantly more PR and estrogen-binding ER than their parental myometria but not the immunoreactive ER per mg of DNA. Nuclear extracts from the myometria contained a high amount of the estrogen-nonbinding immunoreactive ER; in the leiomyomata, the bulk of this particular ER fraction was extracted with cytosol. Dissimilar distribution patterns of immunoreactive, estrogen-nonbinding ER in leiomyomata and normal myometria suggest that an impaired metabolism of ER may contribute to myoma growth.

Estrogen receptor (ER) and progestin receptor (PR) levels in the myometria and uterine leiomyomata of 26 normally menstruating women were studied. No significant menstrual cycle-related change in ER level was found in the leiomyomata or normal myometria. The ER levels in normal myometria and in cellular leiomyomata, but not in usual leiomyomata, tended to be higher in the follicular phase than in the luteal one. The "cytosolic" PR levels in cellular leiomyomata and in usual leiomyomata with no or with slight hyalinization as well as in their parental myometria were significantly lower in the luteal than in the follicular phase. This was not the case in usual leiomyomata with more intense hyalinization. The findings show that the reactivity of uterine leiomyomata to estrogens and/or progestins may be related to the histological features of the tumors. This should be realized when studying the steroid receptor levels in the tumours and possibly also when planning an endocrine therapy for the leiomyomata.

Light and electron microscopic study of a clear-cell carcinoma of the corpus uteri was undertaken. The clear cells of the investigated tumor showed a high degree of cellular differentiation as compared with the typical carcinomatous dark cell. They resemble the endometrial glandular cells of the secretroy type. The ultrastructural examination of the carcinomatous clear areas permits to distinguish these endometrial cells from those of mesonephric or adrenal origin.

Monozygous twin phenotypic females, aged 18, with primary amenorrhea and a 46,XY karyotype and bearing germ cell tumors are described. Patient 1 had a large pelvic tumor involving the uterus, oviduct, and intestine. Histology revealed the choriocarcinoma pattern. No ovarian or testicular tissue was identified. The preoperative serologic pregnancy test was positive. After surgery the urinary human chorionic gonadotropin value was 2500 units per 24 hours. The patient died 2 months after the operation despite chemotherapy. Patient 2 was admitted to the hospital for evaluation following the discovery of pelvic tumor in her twin sister. She had 1 streak gonad harboring gonadoblastoma and, on the opposite side, a gonadoblastoma overgrown by dysgerminoma. The patient is well 4 years after surgery. The risk of malignancy in individuals with XY gonadal dysgenesis is emphasized, and examination and confirmation of karyotype of siblings are recommended.

We studied 116 benign and 18 borderline malignant mucinous ovarian cystadenomas. Their epithelial lining was compared with normal epithelium of the uterine cervix and that of the small and large intestines, by both light and electron microscopy as well as histochemically. This morphological and histochemical analysis enabled us to subdivide mucinous cystadenomas into cervical, mixed and intestinal epithelial types. The epithelial cells of intestinal type tumours exhibited histochemical reactions very similar to, or identical with, those found in both immature and mature cells of intestinal mucosa. Malignant transformation was found in intestinal type mucinous cystadenomas only. Ultrastructural investigations of six neoplasms (four of intestinal and two of cervical epithelium type) confirmed the results found with the light microscope.

Capillaries of the reproductive system of non-pregnant female rabbits with experimental alloxan diabetes show a slight but extensive thickening of the basement membrane. It seems to be the consequence of diabetes. The observed vascular lesions may influence the function of the reproductive system.