title: Comparison of buccal and nasal epithelial cells using a new cell development index and quantitative interference microscopy.
abstract: Cell area, cell dry mass, and three summary indices for tissue maturation were obtained for human buccal and nasal cells viewed in smears (five donors). The means for cell area and dry mass in the buccal smears were 3816 X 10(-8) cm2 and 2294 pg (1 pg=1 X 10(-12) g), respectively. The correlation coefficient for means of cell area and dry mass was r=0.03. The means for the three maturation indices used to characterize the cells viewed in buccal smears were: Cell Development Index (CDI), 486; Maturation Index (MI) 50.6; and Karyopyknotic Index (KPI), 0.028. The correlation coefficients for means were: CDI vs. MI, r=0.88; CDI vs. KPI, r=0.71; and MI vs. KPI, r=0.73. In the buccal smears, the cell types found most frequently were intermediate with round or oval nuclei, which altogether averaged about 90% of the total smear composition, while superficial cells (pyknotic ghost, and anucleate) comprised less than four per cent. In nasal smears, the means for cell area and dry mass were 867 X 10(-8) cm2 and 623 pg, respectively. The correlation coefficient for means of cell area and dry mass was r=0.74. The means for the maturation indices were: CDI, 816; MI, 91.2; and KPI, 0.79. The correlation coefficients for means were CDI vs. MI, r=0.93; CDI vs. KPI, r=0.97; and MI vs. KPI, r=0.85. In nasal smears, the anucleate cell type was found most frequently (about 75%) while intermediate cells with round or oval nuclei comprised approximately 13% of the total smear composition. When donor means for cell area and dry mass of buccal cells were combined for study, they were highly correlated (r=0.88). Similarly, when the maturation indices for buccal and nasal cells were combined for study, they were highly correlated: CDI vs. MI, r=0.99; CDI vs. KPI, r=0.99; and MI vs. KPI, r=0.99. Of the three indices, we believe that the CDI is the index best suited for use in studies of cell development because it is based on an inferred sequence of cellular and nuclear changes occurring during the maturation of epithelial cells. It provides a more detailed description of the cells observed in the smears. It also correlates highly in KPI and MI used in clinical and research efforts.
mesh_terms: D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000648:ultrastructure; D002610:Cheek; D003584:Cytological Techniques; D004847:Epithelial Cells; D006801:Humans; D008857:Microscopy, Interference; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000166:cytology*; D009297:Nasal Mucosa / Q000166:cytology*