Tannic Acid Binding of Cell Surfaces in Normal, Premalignant, and Malignant Squamous Epithelium of the Human Uterine Cervix

Abstract

Alterations in tannic acid (TA) binding capacity of cell surface carbohydrates in normal, premalignant, and malignant squamous epithelium of the human uterine cervix have been studied using electron microscopic visualization in combination with microdensitometric evaluation.

While in normal epithelium there is distinct binding in four to five cell layers of the deep intermediate zone, cells of carcinoma in situ and invasive cancer lesions lack TA binding. In moderate dysplasia an intermediate reacting pattern is found.

Deep intermediate cells in areas bordering the carcinoma in situ lesions do not show any binding, although their ultrastructure cannot be distinguished from similar cells in normal tissue.

The TA deposition within the deep intermediate zone is probably related to the presence here of glycoprotein-containing membrane-coating granules.

The finding that TA binding discriminates between cells in normal squamous epithelium and morphologically normal cells in juxtaposition with lesional areas in premalignant and malignant epithelium opens the possibility for a more reliable cytologic diagnosis of cervical epithelial neoplasia.

Key Words:

• uterine cervix
• epithelium
• malignancy
• ultrastructure
• tannic acid