[A comparison between astrocytoma cells and the developing astrocytes in human embryo brain by electron microscopy]

60 cases of astrocytoma of brain and 8 human embryo brains were studied with light and electron microscopy. The 5 types of tumor cells in astrocytoma include the undifferentiated, pre-astrocyte, astrocyte gemistocyte and tumor giant cells. Some similarities were found between the ultrastructure of astrocytoma and that of the developing astrocyte, the tumor cells somewhat resembling the cells of developing astrocytes. But certain differences were observed, the tumor cells were usually polymorphic with increased chromatin in nucleus, and asynchronism between nucleus and cytoplasm differentiation was sometimes found. The current nomenclature and classification of astrocytoma were evaluated and discussed, the author's opinion on classification was presented.