Abstract
Investigation of lectin cytochemical staining of inflammatory cells in human gliomas showed that Allomyrina dichotoma (Allo-A) cytochemistry can reliably distinguish inflammatory from neoplastic cells. Allo-A cytochemistry combined with silver colloid staining of argyrophilic nucleolar organizer regions (Ag-NORs) was performed in human gliomas. Inflammatory cells possessed usually one but sometimes two Ag-NORs and macrophages often possessed several Ag-NORs. The mean Ag-NOR number per nucleus of inflammatory cells ranged from 1.81 to 2.34, and that of neoplastic cells ranged from 2.57 to 3.53 and from 2.84 to 4.46 in low and high-grade gliomas, respectively. The mean Ag-NOR number per nucleus of inflammatory cells was significantly smaller than that of neoplastic cells (p < 0.001). Combined Allo-A cytochemical and silver colloid Ag-NOR staining can provide a reliable Ag-NOR number in human gliomas by distinguishing inflammatory cells.
