ND10 are recently characterized nuclear domains that are composed of 0.5 microm sized, precisely circumscribed dots in cultured human cell lines. To investigate the distribution and number of ND10 on various types of normal and neoplastic human tissues, we carried out immunostaining and immunoprecipitation analyses with monoclonal antibodies 138 and 1150. The number of ND10 varied from 1 to 10 or more in various tissues as did their size. ND10 were diffusely located in early embryonic and normal tissues, except for the exocrine and endocrine cells of the pancreas and for hepatocytes. In normal squamous mucosa, basal cells had more ND10 than did differentiated superficial squamous cells. The number and size of ND10 were markedly increased in malignant neoplasms but were similar in benign tumors and corresponding normal tissues. Sex hormone-related normal tissues, such as the endometrium or myometrium, and neoplasms strongly stained for ND10. The distribution pattern of ND10 in human tissues indicates that they are conserved nuclear substructures that are closely associated with cellular differentiation, hormonal stimulation, and oncogenesis.

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