[Histological and histochemical observation of cultured cells derived from normal human cervical epithelium (author's...

Growth pattern and cellular properties of primary cultured cells of normal human cervical epithelium were studied by light-and electron microscopy and investigated histochemically. The results are as follows. 1) Original squamous epithelium area: The outgrowth of squamous cells was seen in a pavement like pattern. The size of cytoplasm and nucleus was larger than in vivo cells. The surface of the cells having large N/C ratio was covered by short microvilli, and the cells having small N/C ratio was covered by microridges. In the findings of transmission electron microscopy, irregularly arranged desmosomes and abundant tonofibrils were observed but glycogen particles were almost absent. 2) Endocervical epithelium area: The outgrowth of endocervical cells was seen in a wave and whirl pattern. The cultured cells were slightly stained with PAS, mucicarmine and alkaline phosphatase staining. The surface of these cells was covered by granular microvilli and a few cells had cilia. A tight junction was observed between these cells and a small number of secretory granule like structures were also found. Among these cells, polygonal cells were found. The cells were stained with alkaline phosphatase, and covered by granular microvilli and microridges. The cells sometimes had small amounts of tonofibrils and a small number of secretory granule like structures in the same cells. From these findings polygonal cells were thought to be metaplastic cells. Generally, cultured cells remained the morphologic property of their original cells, but functionally decreased in the production of glycogen in cultured squamous cells, and secretion of mucin in cultured endocervical cells.