[Concentration of DNA in nuclei of the epithelium of the esophageal mucosa in chronic esophagitis, precancer and cancer (comparative microspectrophotometric study)].

The results of comparative microspectrophotometric studies of DNA content in nuclei of esophageal epithelium in healthy persons versus chronic esophagitis, dysplasia, preinvasive carcinoma patients are presented. Biopsy and surgical material were used in the investigation (32 patients at the age of 32-73 including 21 men and 11 women). Microspectrophotometric studies were performed on 51 histologic sections stained after Feulgen. Studies of DNA content in nuclei revealed that the cell redistribution according to nucleus ploidy occurs during the process of dysdifferentiation of squamous epithelial cells. The number of cells with paradiploid nuclei was decreased, whereas that of paraoctoploid cells was increased. Epithelium displayed the highest degree of polyploidy in case of intraepithelial carcinoma.