Ross B, Motherby H, Saurenbach F, Frohn J, Kube M, Böcking A
Institute of Cytopathology, Heinrich Heine University of Düsseldorf, Germany.
Anal Quant Cytol Histol. 1998 Apr;20(2):97-104.
To investigate whether atomic force microscopy (AFM) in combination with classical light microscopy allows simple identification of surface structures of cells from pleural and ascitic fluids for diagnostic purposes in place of scanning electron microscopy (SEM).
We examined a total of 180 cells obtained from 9 reactive pleural or peritoneal effusions, 14 associated with carcinomatosis from histologically confirmed tumors and 5 from mesotheliomas. Cells of interest were selected in air-dried, uncovered, May-Grünwald-Giemsa (MGG)-stained smears and subsequently investigated by AFM. Incorporation of a very compact AFM scanner into the nose piece of a conventional Axioscope light microscope allowed alternating application of both techniques.
AFM was able to detect cell surface structures, such as microvilli, phagocytic pits, secretory blebs and lytic holes. The image resolution was sufficient but not as good as that with SEM. We found differences in number, length and diameter of microvilli between cells from mesotheliomas and from metastatic adenocarcinomas.
As AFM can be carried out in combination with light microscopy quickly and easily on uncovered, MGG-stained smears, we propose this method as a suitable tool for obtaining additional useful information in routine cytologic diagnosis of effusions.
研究原子力显微镜（AFM）结合传统光学显微镜能否简便地识别胸腔积液和腹水细胞的表面结构，以替代扫描电子显微镜（SEM）用于诊断目的。
我们共检查了从9例反应性胸腔或腹腔积液、14例与组织学确诊肿瘤相关的癌性腹水以及5例间皮瘤患者的腹水中获取的180个细胞。在空气干燥、未覆盖、经May-Grünwald-Giemsa（MGG）染色的涂片上选择感兴趣的细胞，随后用AFM进行研究。将一个非常紧凑的AFM扫描仪安装到传统Axioscope光学显微镜的物镜上，使得两种技术能够交替应用。
AFM能够检测细胞表面结构，如微绒毛、吞噬小窝、分泌泡和溶解孔。图像分辨率足够，但不如SEM的分辨率。我们发现间皮瘤细胞和转移性腺癌细胞的微绒毛在数量、长度和直径上存在差异。
由于AFM可以快速、轻松地与光学显微镜结合，在未覆盖、经MGG染色的涂片上进行操作，我们建议将该方法作为在积液常规细胞学诊断中获取额外有用信息的合适工具。
