Biomaterial Database

The role of DNA flow cytometry in evaluation of partial and complete hydatidiform moles and hydropic abortions. 1993

J M Lage, and E J Popek

Department of Pathology, Georgetown University, Washington, DC.

Knowledge of the nuclear DNA content of a hydatidiform mole is extremely useful in distinguishing a partial hydatidiform mole from a complete hydatidiform mole. Flow cytometry can be applied to both fresh or frozen tissue as well as to formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded samples. Methodologies for extracting, staining, and analyzing nuclei are relatively simple and inexpensive, and results are accurate and reproducible. The vast majority of flow cytometers currently available or in use are more than adequate for distinguishing the large difference in nuclear DNA content between partial and complete hydatidiform moles, with sophisticated modeling programs and expensive equipment being unnecessary. We recommend that the DNA content of all hydropic placentas posing diagnostic dilemmas be analyzed by flow cytometry. When combined with clinical history and careful gross and microscopic examination, nuclear DNA content should serve as a very strong indicator of final diagnosis.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D011003	Ploidies	The degree of replication of the chromosome set in the karyotype.	Ploidy
D011247	Pregnancy	The status during which female mammals carry their developing young (EMBRYOS or FETUSES) in utero before birth, beginning from FERTILIZATION to BIRTH.	Gestation,Pregnancies
D002467	Cell Nucleus	Within a eukaryotic cell, a membrane-limited body which contains chromosomes and one or more nucleoli (CELL NUCLEOLUS). The nuclear membrane consists of a double unit-type membrane which is perforated by a number of pores; the outermost membrane is continuous with the ENDOPLASMIC RETICULUM. A cell may contain more than one nucleus. (From Singleton & Sainsbury, Dictionary of Microbiology and Molecular Biology, 2d ed)	Cell Nuclei,Nuclei, Cell,Nucleus, Cell
D004247	DNA	A deoxyribonucleotide polymer that is the primary genetic material of all cells. Eukaryotic and prokaryotic organisms normally contain DNA in a double-stranded state, yet several important biological processes transiently involve single-stranded regions. DNA, which consists of a polysugar-phosphate backbone possessing projections of purines (adenine and guanine) and pyrimidines (thymine and cytosine), forms a double helix that is held together by hydrogen bonds between these purines and pyrimidines (adenine to thymine and guanine to cytosine).	DNA, Double-Stranded,Deoxyribonucleic Acid,ds-DNA,DNA, Double Stranded,Double-Stranded DNA,ds DNA
D005260	Female		Females
D005434	Flow Cytometry	Technique using an instrument system for making, processing, and displaying one or more measurements on individual cells obtained from a cell suspension. Cells are usually stained with one or more fluorescent dyes specific to cell components of interest, e.g., DNA, and fluorescence of each cell is measured as it rapidly transverses the excitation beam (laser or mercury arc lamp). Fluorescence provides a quantitative measure of various biochemical and biophysical properties of the cell, as well as a basis for cell sorting. Other measurable optical parameters include light absorption and light scattering, the latter being applicable to the measurement of cell size, shape, density, granularity, and stain uptake.	Cytofluorometry, Flow,Cytometry, Flow,Flow Microfluorimetry,Fluorescence-Activated Cell Sorting,Microfluorometry, Flow,Cell Sorting, Fluorescence-Activated,Cell Sortings, Fluorescence-Activated,Cytofluorometries, Flow,Cytometries, Flow,Flow Cytofluorometries,Flow Cytofluorometry,Flow Cytometries,Flow Microfluorometries,Flow Microfluorometry,Fluorescence Activated Cell Sorting,Fluorescence-Activated Cell Sortings,Microfluorimetry, Flow,Microfluorometries, Flow,Sorting, Fluorescence-Activated Cell,Sortings, Fluorescence-Activated Cell
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D006828	Hydatidiform Mole	Trophoblastic hyperplasia associated with normal gestation, or molar pregnancy. It is characterized by the swelling of the CHORIONIC VILLI and elevated human CHORIONIC GONADOTROPIN. Hydatidiform moles or molar pregnancy may be categorized as complete or partial based on their gross morphology, histopathology, and karyotype.	Molar Pregnancy,Pregnancy, Molar,Hydatid Mole,Hydatidiform Mole, Complete,Hydatidiform Mole, Partial,Complete Hydatidiform Mole,Complete Hydatidiform Moles,Hydatid Moles,Hydatidiform Moles,Hydatidiform Moles, Complete,Hydatidiform Moles, Partial,Molar Pregnancies,Mole, Complete Hydatidiform,Mole, Hydatid,Mole, Hydatidiform,Mole, Partial Hydatidiform,Moles, Complete Hydatidiform,Moles, Hydatid,Moles, Hydatidiform,Moles, Partial Hydatidiform,Partial Hydatidiform Mole,Partial Hydatidiform Moles,Pregnancies, Molar