Correlative light and electron microscope study of the basement membrane of the human ectocervix

Summary Biopsies from 18 human cervices were studied by the light and electron microscope techniques in order to determine the nature of the “P.A.S.-positive basement membrane of light microscopy.” Under the electron microscope, the light microscope basement membrane was shown to be composed of connective tissue fibers (particularly reticulum fibers) in the 0.4 to 0.5 µ area of the stroma immediately subjacent to the electron microscope basement membrane. Incubation of the sections with collagenase resulted in failure of the tissue to show the “P.A.S.-positive basement membrane of light microscopy.”