A reminder: "N" refers to the number of chromosomes per nucleus, "C" refers to nuclear DNA content relative to the 2C resting diploid DNA content (or 1C haploid DNA content of sperm cells); "C" is the property measured by cytometry. A cell with 4C DNA may be either a premitotic diploid (2N) cell, or a resting tetraploid (4N) cell - likewise for 8C, 16C, etc. A cell may become polyploid (4N, 8N, etc.) in different ways, including natural endoreduplication as with megakaryocytes, in response to processes that interfer with normal mitosis leading to aborted nuclear division, or by fusion of two normal cells. True polyploidy is a relatively normal process and is not associated with significant pathology; in contrast aneuploidy, which is an abnormal number of chromosomes, is usually associated with malignant pathologies. A good starting place for more information on the interpretation of DNA Cytometry is the DNA Cytometry Consensus Conference reported in Cytometry, vol. 14:5, pp 471 et seq. (1993) Brian H. Mayall, MD Professor Emeritus of Laboratory Medicine & Urology, UCSF 814 Laguna Street Livermore, CA 94550-5230 Tel: (925) 443-6526 FAX: (925) 455-6615 email: mayall@cc.ucsf.edu
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b29 : Wed Apr 03 2002 - 11:53:18 EST