[Interference microscopic determinations of dry mass of cell nuclei of normal and dysplastic epithelium, carcinoma in situ and cervical carcinoma cultivated in vitro (author's transl)].

Dry mass of cell nuclei was studied in 34 explant cultures of normal epithelium (8), persisting dysplasias (7), Ca in situ (9) and cervical carcinomas (10) by interference microscopic determination. Dysplasias, Ca in situ and carcinomas can be distinguished from normal epithelium by a significantly higher dry mass value. Such a difference does not exist between dysplasia and Ca in situ. The percentage of dispersion of the dry mass is significantly higher in carcinomas than in all other examined tissues. The biological meaning of these results is discussed. The interference microscopic determination of dry mass of the cell nuclei is a suitable parameter for the characterization of properties of cervical carcinomas and their intraepithelial prestages cultivated in vitro.