The Open Anatomy Journal
2010, 2 : 25-28Published online 2010 March 31. DOI: 10.2174/1877609401002010025
Publisher ID: TOANATJ-2-25
RESEARCH ARTICLE
Argyrophil Cells in Normal Human Uterine Cervix
2 Department of Pathology, MMMC, Manipal, Karnataka, India
3 Department of Medicine, KMC Attavar, Karnataka, India
* Address correspondence to this author at the Department of Anatomy, Centre for Basic Sciences, Kasturba Medical College, Bejai, Mangalore, PIN 575004, Karnataka, India; Tel: +91 824 2222768; Fax: +91 824 2428183; E-mails: ; sujatha.dcosta@manipal.edu
ABSTRACT
Introduction:
Argyrophil cells are neuroendocrine cells which react with silver stain resulting in brown or black coloration with the help of an external reducer. Argyrophil cells occur rarely in the normal human uterine cervix but are found in a variety of invasive tumors arising in the cervix.
Methods and Results:
About 317 normal human uterine cervices were stained with Grimelius argyrophilic reaction out of which 158 cases (49.84%) showed the positivity. The immunomarkers used in the present study were Chromogranin A and Synaptophysin.
Discussion:
In the present study, an attempt has been done to study the role of Argyrophil cells in normal uterine cervix using a larger sample size. The earlier studies have shown that the carcinoid tumors of the uterine cervix may a have arisen from argyrophil cells of the normal uterine cervix and are part of the group of neoplasms of the diffuse endocrine cell system (Amine Precursor Uptake and Decarboxylation or APUD). Detection and evaluation of argyrophil cells is important in assessment of the progression of precancerous lesions of cervix.