Analysis of nuclear chromatin distribution in cervical glandular abnormalities.
OBJECTIVE
To measure the intensity of hematoxylin staining for the analysis of chromatin distribution and to define a clear set of standards.


METHODS
Cervical smears obtained from 12 patients with glandular lesions, 5 with squamous lesions and 3 without cervical lesions were used for NIH image analysis (public domain NIH image program developed at the U.S. National Institute of Health, available through the Internet by anonymous ftp from zippy.nimh.nih.gov or on floppy disk from the National Technical Information Service, Springfield, Virginia). In addition, the same cervical smears were restained with propidium iodide, and the DNA content in the nuclei was compared with that with hematoxylin staining.


RESULTS
Chromatin distribution was categorized into 3 patterns. Pattern A was that for which the highest staining density was localized in the periphery of the nucleus, while in pattern C it was localized in the center of the nucleus. Pattern B was the intermediate type between patterns A and C. In patients with adenocarcinoma, pattern B was predominant; pattern C was also relatively frequent in this group. In atypical glandular cells observed in patients with squamous lesions, patterns A and B were predominant and pattern C rarely seen. Analysis of DNA content in the nucleus revealed that nuclei showing pattern B contained significantly higher quantities of DNA than those showing pattern A.


CONCLUSIONS
Nuclear chromatin distribution seems to correlate well with DNA content, and analysis of the chromatin distribution pattern is helpful for the diagnosis of cervical glandular neoplasia.
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Saga Medical School, Saga, Japan. watanabs@post.saga-med.ac.jp
Sumiko
S
Watanabe
Tsuyoshi
T
Iwasaka
Masatoshi
M
Yokoyama
Michiko
M
Uchiyama
Tsunehisa
T
Kaku
Toshitaka
T
Matsuyama
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D000328:Adult; D002278:Carcinoma in Situ / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology*; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology*; D002843:Chromatin / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology*; D004396:Coloring Agents; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm / Q000032:analysis; D005088:Exocrine Glands / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006416:Hematoxylin; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008875:Middle Aged; D013194:Staining and Labeling; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D014626:Vaginal Smears; D002578:Uterine Cervical Dysplasia / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology*
D002843:Chromatin; D004396:Coloring Agents; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm; D006416:Hematoxylin