DNA-PLOIDY BY IMAGE CYTOMETRY AND KARYOTYPE IN SPONTANEOUS-ABORTION

We compared the DNA content (DI) by cell image analysis with the karyo type and morphological phenotype of paraffin-embedded tissues from 51 spontaneous abortions. The study included 21 cases with triploid, 19 c ases with diploid, and 11 cases with aneuploid (monosomic, trisomic, o r mosaic) karyotype. Measurements were performed by image analysis on the trophoblastic and stromal cells of chorionic villi using 5-mu m-th ick, Feulgen-stained sections. At least 200 cells were analyzed. Resul ts were interpreted using DI ranges of 1.3 to 1.7 for triploid and 0.9 to 1.1 for a diploid profile. All 21 cases with a cytogenetically con firmed triploid karyotype had DI values within the triploid range, and all 19 cases with a diploid karyotype had DI values within the diploi d range. All of the trisomies and monosomies also had a DNA mass withi n the diploid range. However, eight cases with triploid karyotype also had a peak in the diploid range: one case with a diploid karyotype an d one case with a trisomic karyotype each had an additional peak in th e triploid range. We did not find a morphological correlation either w ith image analysis or with karyotype. We conclude that sell image anal ysis is a reliable method for detection of triploidy in spontaneous ab ortions. This relatively rapid method allows visual discrimination of the areas to be analyzed, avoids the problem of maternal cell contamin ation, and may unmask mosaic karyotypes that would go unrecognized by cytogenetic studies alone. Copyright (C) 1998 by W.B. Saunders Company .