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Fifteen normal bone marrow aspirates were stained with the agyrophilic nucleolar organiser region (AgNOR) method. The results of the specific staining AgNORs as well as nuclear and cytoplasmic staining were analysed. A system was devised to characterise precisely the AgNORs present in the nuclei of bone marrow cells. Particular types of bone marrow cells had a characteristic AgNOR and non-AgNOR staining pattern. The bone marrow cells were identified easily and reliably with AgNOR staining and the method was especially useful for lymphocytes, plasma cells, erythroid cells, basophils/mast cells, monocytes and cells containing haemosiderin. The immature haemopoietic cells exhibited more and larger AgNORs than the more mature cells. It is concluded that AgNOR staining can be used to study bone marrow cells by providing additional information when used in conjunction with conventional stains.

Fifteen normal bone marrow aspirates were stained with the agyrophilic nucleolar organiser region (AgNOR) method. The results of the specific staining AgNORs as well as nuclear and cytoplasmic staining were analysed. A system was devised to characterise precisely the AgNORs present in the nuclei of bone marrow cells. Particular types of bone marrow cells had a characteristic AgNOR and non-AgNOR staining pattern. The bone marrow cells were identified easily and reliably with AgNOR staining and the method was especially useful for lymphocytes, plasma cells, erythroid cells, basophils/mast cells, monocytes and cells containing haemosiderin. The immature haemopoietic cells exhibited more and larger AgNORs than the more mature cells. It is concluded that AgNOR staining can be used to study bone marrow cells by providing additional information when used in conjunction with conventional stains.

The AgNOR technique was used to analyse 11 cases of adenocarcinoma in situ of the endocervix and five examples of healthy cervices to assess whether areas of "increased nuclear activity" could be located adjacent to the malignant tissue. Areas of adenocarcinoma in situ had significantly more AgNOR staining dots than apparently normal bordering areas ("transitional areas") and areas of endocervical epithelium remote from adenocarcinoma in situ. There were no significant differences between AgNOR counts in transitional areas and areas remote from adenocarcinoma in situ, and between these areas and histologically normal cervices. These observations provide no support for the hypothesis that areas of glandular atypia of lesser severity or zones of "increased nuclear activity" exist adjacent to adenocarcinoma in situ.