A Time-Lapse Cinematographic Study In Vitro of Mitosis in Normal Human Cervical Epithelium, Dysplasia, and Carcinoma In Situ2

Abstract

Mitosis in tissue-cultured cells derived from normal human cervical epithelium, dysplasia, and carcinoma in situ was studied by phasecontrast time-lapse cinematography. The morphological conduct of mitosis was strikingly aberrant in the neoplastic cells when compared to the normal cells. When the times spent in the individual mitotic phases were analyzed statistically, it was Found that the normal cells spent significantly less time in prometaphase and telophase than did the neoplastic cells, and the time in metaphase was significantly greater. In addition, there was greater variability in the duration of prometaphase and telophase in the neoplastic cells than in the normal cells. An examination of the correlation coefficients between stages and diagnostic groups suggests a gradual breakdown in the coordination of mitosis during the transition From a normal cell to carcinoma in situ.