Argyrophil Cells in Normal Human Uterine Cervix
Sujatha D’Costa*, 1, C.V Raghuveer2, Adhikari Prabha3, Sampath Madhyasta1
1 Department of Anatomy, CBS, KMC, Mangalore -575004 Karnataka, India
2 Department of Pathology, MMMC, Manipal, Karnataka, India
3 Department of Medicine, KMC Attavar, Karnataka, India
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.
Keywords: Argyrophil cells, neuroendocrine cells, normal cervix.
Article Information
Article History:
Received Date: 3/9/2009
Revision Received Date: 29/10/2009
Acceptance Date: 19/11/2009
Electronic publication date: 31/3/2010
Collection year: 2010
© D’Costa et al.; Licensee Bentham Open.
open-access license: This is an open access article licensed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/) which permits unrestricted, non-commercial use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the work is properly cited.
* 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; sujathasn@gmail.com
Open Peer Review Details |
Manuscript submitted on 3-9-2009 |
Original Manuscript |
Argyrophil Cells in Normal Human Uterine Cervix |