Research on the Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Cervix uteri by Cytophotometric and Planimetric Evaluations

Abstract

Introduction: Using cytophotometry it was possible to determine some components of the single cell. During carcinogenesis of the human cervix uteri there were found atypical values of DNA. The additional determination of RNA and histones resulted in relationship. Histones are accepted to be the stabilizers of DNA molecules. A lysine rich histone fraction was more found in heterochromatin whereas a arginine rich histone fraction seemed to be more linked to the euchromatin. It was the question of this investigation to prove these relationships during cancerization of the human cervix uteri.

Material and methods: Smears of 19 carcinomata in situ and 24 invasive cancers were compared with 20 control patients. The following parameters were determined by cytophotometry or planimetry:

• DNA: Staining with acriflavine (Graumann, 1953; Sandritter et al., 1963).

• RNA: Staining with gallocyanine-chromalum after treatment with DN-ase (Novakova et al., 1969).

• Histione: Staining with fastgreen pH 8.2 (Alfert et al., 1953; Jobst and Sandritter, 1964).

• Arginine: Staining with ninhydrine (Rosselet, 1967) after cytolysis (Herzog, 1974).

• Lysine: Staining with dansylchloride (Rosselet and Ruch, 1968) after cytolysis.

• Heterochromatin, condensed histone, condensed arginine, and condensed lysine: Planimetrical evaluation of the corresponding microphotographs.

Results: In the three groups of patients we found similar relationships. The mean values corresponded as well in the photometric determined values of DNA, RNA, histone, arginine, and lysine as in the planimetrical results (heterochromatin; condensed histone, arginine, and lysine). The deviation of all values of each group was in line too.

Discussion: According to these results we believe, that the relationship between the synthesis of DNA and the one of RNA and histone is not disturbed during carcinogenesis. Simultaneously the synthesis of arginine rich and lysine rich histone fractions — compared with them of DNA and histones seems to have not been changed.