[Stratified cylindrical epithelium of the human urethra. Apropos of various cytological observations on urocytograms].

The stratified columnar cells of the human urethra were studied by the filtering membrane technique in urocytograms usually effected, or in smears made after a cytoscopy or after an ejaculation. The cells were present in 61% of systematic filters without inflammation, in 82% of inflammatory filters, and in the urine of 90% of persons after a cytoscopy. The mean number of columnar cells did not exceed 1% in usual filters without inflammation; the percentage varied with the donor sex, but it did not show a significant variation with the donor age. The presence of an inflammation in filters is followed by an increase of the number of columnar cells (until 6%) and of clumps. The columnar cells were numerous in the bladder-washing liquid postcytoscopy (until 40%); their number rapidly decreased in further filters and became to nil between days 7 and 9 after the cytoscopy. The cell clumps showed the same evolution, but they disappeared in filters more rapidly. The significance of these results is discussed.