Morphometry of in vitro systems. An image analysis of two human prostate cancer cell lines (PC3 and DU-145)

Morphometric analysis on two human prostate cancer cell lines (PC3 and DU-145) was carried out to better characterize these cells and to approach some problems concerning their polymorphism. In our hands, these cells appear to differ either in their ability to oxidize testosterone or in their androgen receptor content. Morphometric evaluation was performed by means of an Interactive Image Analysis System (IBAS 1), which computes several parameters related to the whole cell and to the nucleus. Our results clearly indicate that nuclear parameters alone may discriminate PC3 from DU-145 cells. Particularly, the Nuclear Roundness Factor appeared important, since it quantifies changes in nuclear shape. Nevertheless, the value of this parameter for "in vitro" morphometry may be overshadowed by the polymorphism common to the cultured cells. However, morphometric evaluation of PC3 and DU-145 cells is relevant to a better understanding and definition of the biologic nature of these cells, even if polymorphism, heterogeneity and genetic instability, specially of PC3, require further investigations.