Statistical analysis of morphometrically analyzed outlines of cells in culture. Comparison of populations of normal and polyomavirus-transformed FR 3T3 fibroblasts

: The correspondence analysis method was used to statistically characterize the morphologies of populations of normal (nontransformed; N.3T3) and polyomavirus-transformed (Py.3T3) Fisher rat 3T3 fibroblasts in culture, based on morphologic parameters calculated according to a previously described morphometric method. With this statistical method, each cell is considered as a vector in a space defined by an arrangement of the calculated morphologic parameters. The N.3T3 cells and the Py.3T3 have two distinct morphologic aspects in culture: they have either a smooth or a multipolar outline. The normal cell population contained twice as many cells with smooth outlines (46%) as did the transformed one (23%). Moreover, the cells with smooth outlines in the two strains could be classified into three homologous subpopulations that were present in significantly different proportions in the N.3T3 cells versus the Py.3T3 cells. In addition, morphologic differences were observed among the cells with multipolar outlines in these two strains, due to differences in the morphologies, size, number and distribution of the cytoplasmic expansions along the cell outline.