Figure 1

Peroxidase immunohistochemistry (IHC; brown color) of stratified epithelium of uterine ectocervix as indicated above columns and in the inset. A) CD14 primitive MDC in lamina propria (Ip) associate with the epithelium basement membrane (dotted line). Dashed box indicates detail shown in (B). b, basal layer; pb, parabasal layer; im, intermediate layer; s, superficial layer. Arrowheads, b/pb interface; dashed line, pb/im interface; dashed/dotted line, im/s interface. Ki67 staining (inset) of epithelial cells in lower pb layer (arrowheads). B) CD14 MDC (arrows) exhibit extensions among basal cells (arrowhead). C) Pericytes of microvasculature (arrows) associate with the basement membrane. D) Detail from (C) shows intercellular Thy-1 vesicles (arrow) secreted by pericytes and migrating among basal cells (short black arrowhead) to b/pb interface (long arrowhead). Yellow arrowhead indicates residual empty structures ("spikes"). E) Strong MHC class I expression (W6/32 antibody specific for heavy chain) is characteristic of parabasal cells, and diminishes in lower intermediate layers. Dashed box indicates detail shown in (F). F) Basal cells show no MHC class I expression.