Abstract

Human papillomavirus (HPV) types were investigated by in situ hybridization (ISH) in biopsies from 18 patients with diverse pathologies of cervix uteri (7 condylomas, 1 CIN I + HPV, 3 CIN II, 4 CIN II + HPV and 3 CIN III). Cervical smears of the same patients were processed by Scanning Electron Mycroscopy (SEM) in order to study the configuration of surfaces of cells infected by different HPV types.

Seven condylomas, 1 CIN I + HPV, 3 CIN II and 3 CIN II + HPV showed almost identical surface configurations to those of normal cells (short, thin, homogeneous microvilli or typical microridges). This group presented low, moderate and high risk HPV types in a episomal form, while 1 CIN II + HPV and 3 CIN III with integrated HPV 16/18 exfoliated cells covered with gross microvilli, with variable length and uneven distribution, or an amorphous surface.

The presence of HPV 16/18 cannot be sufficient for the development of an anormal configuration, but the integrated state of this viral type could be related to the morphological changes in cellular surface morphology.

The results of this paper underline the importance of viral integration in the genesis of cervical carcinoma.

Key words: human papillomavirus; cervical intraepithelial neoplasia; scanning electron microscopy; hybridization in situ