Fine structure of normal human cervical squamous epithelium in vitro

Abstract Cervical biopsies were taken from 8 normal women and explants of squamous epithelium were grown in tissue culture. After 14 to 21 days the cell monolayers were fixed, thin-sectioned, and stained for electron microscopic examination. The cultured cells had features characteristic of squamous epithelial cells, i.e., numerous desmosomes and tonofibrils, and in most other respects resembled their counterparts from biopsy material.