Ultrastructural modifications at uterine cervix level induced by human papillomaviruses infections

The paper presents the ultrastructural modifications occurring in uterine cervix epithelium in 10 patients with clinical susceptibility of HPV infections. The presence of viral HPV particles was identified in 5 cases and in 1 case the concomitant presence of both HPV and HSV2 particles was detected. The maximum amount of HPV virions is found in the spinous and superficial layer, particularly in the nucleus, but also in cytoplasm. In all the studied cases, cellular alterations were present in the whole depth of the epithelium. The degree of cellular alterations depends upon the epithelial layer to which they belong and to the stage of the disease as well. Cellular alterations are more pronounced at the level of the spinous and superficial layer being present both in nucleus (chromatin condensations, invaginations of the nuclear membrane, the occurrence of some pseudonuclei) and cytoplasm (intracytoplasmic vacuolizations, the presence of some inclusions). The presence of some giant mono- and binucleated cells as well as the formation of cellular syncytia in case of severe alterations are also reported.