[Ensuring the quality of cytodiagnosis in the cervix].

The quality of cytodiagnosis depends on a number of operations. It is associated with collection of cellular material, it depends on its processing in the laboratory and on the evaluation of the processed preparation by the cytologist who establishes the diagnosis. In collaboration with three laboratories we tried to evaluate the role of the used nomenclature in the evaluation system.

Distribution of fibronectin in foetal tissues.

The distribution of fibronectin in tissues of four human foetuses (7-14 gestation weeks/GW) and twenty seven pig foetuses (25-114 days of gestation) was investigated using immunofluorescence and avidin/biotin methods. Fibronectin was abundant in the circulatory and gastrointestinal system and its derivates, in reticular stroma of immune organs, and in connective tissues and chorionic villi at all developmental stages.

Cells adherent to IUDs produce tumor necrosis factor alpha.

The nature of adherent cells obtained from the surface of intrauterine contraceptive devices (IUD) was investigated by immunofluorescence using antibodies directed against tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF), leukocyte differentiation antigens, immunoglobulin isotypes and J chain. Macrophages/monocytes, lymphocytes and neutrophils were found in all fifty samples. Macrophages were characterized by CD14, CD15 and CD71 positivity, DAKO macrophage antibody and HLA-DR, CD11c and CD45 expression.

Expression of HLA-DR molecules and some other differentiation antigens within early human fetus.

Leukocyte membrane markers have been examined within cryostat sections and cell suspensions of human fetuses aged between 4 and 18 weeks of gestation using a panel of monoclonal antibodies. The HLA-DR molecule was present on a population of erythroid cells and macrophages in liver sinuses at 34 days and periarteriolar splenic macrophages at 60 days of gestation. CD5, CD15 and CD45 antigens were detected at 6 weeks of gestation, whereas CD4, CD8, CD10, CD11c, CD14 and IgM were not expressed at this stage.

[Immune cells on the IUD].

Cells isolated on the surface of just removed IUD "DANA" were characterized by means of monoclonal antibodies and the avidin-biotin method. Activated macrophages with the membrane sign CD 14 and transferrin receptors (25-72%) and B lymphocytes producing IgA and IgG (14-56%) contained strong transplantation antigens class II. By these glycoproteins macrophages and B cells are able to differentiate alie and thus also paternal antigens.

Polyester film as an advantageous tool for light and ultrastructural examination of single cells infected with viruses.

The use of marked transparent polyester film as a support of cell monolayer, smears or sections (cryostat or paraffin), makes possible to examine the same cell preselected in the light microscope by electron microscope (EM). Consequently, this technique enables to use histological or immunohistological investigations (using immunofluorescence or peroxidase (Px) labelling) by light microscopy before examination in EM. As example we used herpes simplex virus (HSV) type 1-infected cells grown on the above mentioned polyester film.

Description of the population and ultrastructure of cells on IUDs.

We looked at the cell population and individual cell ultrastructure in samples from the surfaces of removed IUDs. The women had worn the devices for 48 hours to eight years prior to removal. The layer of cells which covers IUDs two days after insertion was found to consist of macrophages and neutrophils.