Selective incorporation of fluorescein-labeled steroids in the vaginal epithelium of women of childbearing age.

The incorporation of fluorescein-labeled estradiol and desoxycorticosterone in human vaginal epithelial cells during the menstrual cycle was studied. The uptake of these steroids changes during the menstrual cycle and can be related to data on nuclear binding sites in the human endometrium during the menstrual cycle. Further studies must be done to prove the effectiveness of this method as a test for the hormone sensitivity of tissue or cells, especially the sensitivity of neoplastic tissue to hormonal therapy.