Analysis of the structure and distribution of chromatin in interphase nuclei of different cell types from a pleural effusion of tumoral origin in man. Cytophotometric and electron microscopic studies

The authors have studied the distribution and the structure of the chromatin in the different cell types from a human pleural effusion of tumoral origin (mammary adenocarcinoma). The results show that in the entire nuclei the distribution and the structure of the chromatin cannot be considered as characteristic morphological features of the cells of the same cellular type. Thus making a clear distinction among differentiating cells and cells in DNA synthesis or in G2 period, only based on these properties of the chromatin, is very debatable. On the other hand, the distribution and the structure of the chromatin permit to characterize the different cell types in G1 period. The authors discuss the possible differential cytological diagnosis of the smears from human effusions of tumoral origin.