β-GLUCURONIDASE STUDIES IN WOMEN. V. THE MENSTRUAL CYCLE: AND SERUM β-GLUCURONIDASE ACTIVITY IN ESTROGENTREATED POSTMENOPAUSAL SUBJECTS*†

Abstract

IN THE course of clarifying the significance of β-glucuronidase activity in the vaginal fluid for detecting the presence of cancer of the cervix (1, 2), it was found that endocrine factors had an important influence. For instance, high vaginal fluid β-glucuronidase titers were frequently found in postmenopausal women and in women who had been castrated by surgery or irradiation. It seemed logical therefore to investigate jβ-glucuronidase activity of the vaginal fluid as a function of the menstrual cycle in healthy young women and to explore the effects of estrogen on β-glucuronidase in various physiologic states. Sixteen healthy young women collected their own vaginal fluid specimens twice a week according to the technique described in a previous paper (1). Resting morning temperatures were recorded daily. β-Glucuronidase activities were determined in the laboratory on the day of collection, as previously described (1), both on vaginal fluid and on blood serum. Many of these individuals were followed through three complete menstrual cycles.