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Two human cellular lines of cancerous small lung cells obtained from biopsies specimens from two patients were characterized in vitro according to cellular morphology, growth modality, caryotype and antigenic profile. In vivo studies were carried out by inoculating the cells into nude mice of both sexes and various ages by different routes in order to study tumorigenicity and metastatic capacity and to identify a biological marker of the malignancy. Results obtained to date suggest that the two cellular lines have different biological properties similar to the classic and the variant form found in literature. A biological marker of the malignancy seems to be the antigenic profile of the cells.

Maternal- fetal exchanges are mainly regulated by trophoblast, which displays an active role during embryo growth. Trophoblast organization into a syncytial layer involves structural and functional steps that may be monitored and better elucidated by "in vitro" studies. In light of this, we have carried out morphological and biochemical analyses in order to evaluate 1) the syncytiotrophoblast formation in culture (48 h, 5-30 days) the Na+/K+ATPase activity and 3) the plasmalemmal microviscosity changes occurring during "in vitro" trophoblast production. Morphological and biochemical modulations have been pointed out.

We have studied lymphocyte membrane from 7 patients with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) and 8 normal controls using fluorescence polarization of 1,6-diphenyl-hexatriene (DPH). The microviscosity of lymphocytes membrane is significatively higher in DMD patients than in normal controls. Our results support the hypothesis of a generalized membrane defect in Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.

The frequency of the 9qh+ variant was fond to be significantly increased (as compared to controls) in the following classes of subjects: R)professionally radioexposed individuals; P)patients with chromosomal aberrations; PP)parents of P; Cs)sterile or pluriabortive couples. While the increase of 9qh+ in P and PP individuals was already known, the findings in professionally radioexposed individuals and sterile or pluriabortive couples appear to be relatively new. Occurrence of 9qh+ might prove to be a useful indicator of chromosomal damage, while confirmation of these findings would entail stringent limitation of professional and diagnostic radioexposure.

"Paranormal" variants of human chromosomes, devoid of phenotypical effects (since what appears to vary is heterochromatic, non-genic DNA) are known to be heritable. Some very large variants (especially the qh+ variants on chromosomes 1 and possibly 16 and Y) were reported to be associated with increased reproductive pathology (sterility, fetal wastage, chromosomal aberrations). These variants are currently assessed by the C-band techniques; very large C-bands correspond to morphological alterations (elongation or deformation) of the chromosome. A study of qh+ morphological variants of chromosomes 1, 9 and 16 in 40 professionally radioexposed subjects, in 40 Down-syndrome patients and in 40 controls is reported, indicating that the frequency of each variant is lowest among controls, intermediate among professionally radioexposed subjects and highest among Down-syndrome patients. These findings, if confirmed, suggest a possible use of the qh+ variants as heritable indicators of chromosomal damage.

The "qh+" variants in the human karyotype are generally held to be inherited and devoid of phenotypical effects, although more frequent in families with cases of chromosomal aberrations. The finding of an even higher frequency of apparent mosaicism for 9qh+ in the karyotype of individuals professionally exposed to radiation supports the hypothesis that the variant may be mutagen-induced, possibly reflecting a "first hit" in chromosomal damage. Further studies are under way to verify the hypothesis, in view of a possible use as an indicator of radiation damage and/or risk factor in genetic counseling.