INVESTIGATION OF CARCINOMA IN-SITU CELLS OF TESTIS BY QUANTIFICATION OF ARGYROPHILIC NUCLEOLAR ORGANIZER REGION ASSOCIATED PROTEINS (AGNORS)

The silver staining which specifically stains argyrophilic proteins (A gNORs) in interphase nuclei was applied to paraffin sections of 24 tes ticular specimens with carcinoma in situ (CIS), AgNOR area per nucleus was quantified by a computerized image analyser, Significant quantita tive differences were found between CIS, Sertoli cells, and spermatogo nia (P=0.0001), with median values of 10.3, 2.8, and 1.4 mu m(2) in th e three cell types, respectively, A Sertoli cell index (SCI), defined as the ratio between AgNORs in CIS or spermatogonia and Sertoli cells, was shown to be significant in the differential diagnosis of CIS cell s from spermatogonia when 1.0 was used as the cut-off value (CIS>1; sp ermatogonia<1). Furthermore, CIS associated with non-seminoma was foun d to have a significantly higher level of AgNORs than CIS associated w ith pure seminoma (P<0.01), indicating that subclonal variation in tra nsformation potential might be present within morphologically identica l CIS of the testis, It remains to be seen whether quantification of A gNORs in isolated CIS could be used to predict transformation of CIS i nto seminoma or non-seminoma.