Abstract
Nuclear DNA content in utero-vaginal squamous cells was measured with emphasis on the normal exfoliated cells in order to find the characteristic DNA histograms about normal cells of different maturity and criteria for distinguishing abnormal cells, and possibilities for cytological analyses by means of impulse cytophotometer type 11 and its clinical application were explored.
A total of 72 cases, consisting of 11 cases of group A where the maturation-index on smear with Papanicolau stain showed 85% or higher leftward transition, 28 cases of group B with 85% or higher central transition, 16 case of group C with 85% or higher rightward transition, and 17 cases of group D in a few months of pregnancy, were examined and the following results were obtained.
1) Nuclear DNA content was the highest in group A followed by group B and group D in that order, and it was lowest in group C.
2) In group A, nuclear DNA content did not exceed 50 channel, while it was always below 45 channel on the X-axis of histogram in groups B, C and D. In some of group C, it was even below 35 channel.
3) In all of the groups, the ratio (3C+4C)/total did not exceed 7.8, while the ratios of 4C/2C and 4C/S never exceeded 2.2 and 3.2 respectively.
4) Existence of mitotic phase cells was suggested in groups A, B and D, although in small numbers, and further pyknotic cells were indicated in group C.
5) As to the clinical application of flow-cytometry in patients with uterine cancer, this method seems to be useful in the diagnosis of uterine cancer by determining the part exceeding 4C including (3C+4C).
