Hemidesmosomal dimensions and frequency in experimental oral carcinogenesis: a stereological investigation

Connective tissue invasion by carcinomas results in a variety of morphological changes at the epithelial-connective tissue junction. In this report, hemidesmosomal size (-delta) and frequency (Ns) were quantified using established stereological methods. Following treatment of hamster cheek pouches with the chemical carcinogen DMBA, lesions defined as hyperplasias, dysplasias and carcinomas were evaluated using electron microscopical techniques. Untreated pouches served as controls. Stereological intersection counting procedures were used to quantify hemidesmosomes at the epithelial-connective tissue junction. During carcinogenesis, hemidesmosomal diameter decreased progressively, although the reductions were not statistically significant. Hemidesmosomal frequency also decreased progressively between control and carcinoma groups. Normal basal plasma membranes possessed approximately 8 hemidesmosomes/micron 2 whereas values were reduced to approximately 3/micron 2 in the carcinoma group. The reductions in hemidesmosomal frequency during carcinogenesis may reflect an increased motility of basal epithelial cells and a decreased adherence of basal cells to the adjacent lamina propria. The specificity of this alteration in the pathogenesis of malignancy can be readily determined by the application of stereological methods to various neoplastic and non-neoplastic lesions.