So called repair cells (Patten and Reagan) which appeared in the regeneration processes following several kinds oftherapeutic manupulation on the female genital tract havebeen a studied by means of cytomorphologic and cytophotometrical methods. Totally 3069 cytologic specimens obtained in the year of 1975 were examined.
Repair cells were found after radiation therapy, hysterectomy, cauterization, cryosurgery and curretage, etc. The repair cells were subclassified into two groups; Group A and Group B, on the basis of their cytological features. The former was considered having its origin in squamousepithelium and the latter in endocervical columnar cells. Microspectrophotometric measurements of relative DNAcontent were performed on the both cell types as well as onthe other control cells.
Eighty to ninety per cent of the repair cells examinedhave shown a peak in the same range 2n, as the intermediate cells of squamous epithelium have shown andthe remaining 10-20% another small peak in the diploidrange (4n). Distribution of nuclear DNA amount is alittle bit wider among repair cells than the intermediatecells. However, aneuploidy was not seen. There was nodefinite difference in distribution. curve between Group Aand Group B cells, though the latter contained smallernumber of cells which have shown 4n than the former. Whether or not this is a characteristic of the cells derived from coluinnar epithelium or indicate the difference inprocess of cell cycle among both types of cell is open todiscussion. Distribution of nuclear DNA amount of repaircell simulates that of parabasal cells. This might suggestthe repair cells hold the mitotic activity similar in grade asthat of parabasal cells.
