Mitotic Index

The mitotic index is a measure of mitotic activity that reflects the number of dividing cells in the sample being examined. It is used in various fields of biology and medicine to assess the proliferative activity of tissues and cells, as well as to diagnose and monitor diseases associated with disruption of the mitotic cycle.

The mitotic index can be determined both in tissues and in cell culture. In tissues, the mitotic index is determined by counting the number of dividing cells on a histological preparation prepared from the test sample. To determine the mitotic index in cell cultures, special methods such as microscopy or fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) are used.

Normally, the mitotic index depends on the age, gender and physiological state of the body. For example, the mitotic index is higher in children than in adults, and in pregnant women it may be higher than in the non-pregnant state. Moreover, the mitotic index changes in various diseases such as cancer, infections, autoimmune diseases, etc.

Measuring the mitotic index is important for diagnosing and monitoring the treatment of various diseases. For example, in cancer, the mitotic index is one of the most important prognostic factors, which allows one to assess the likelihood of tumor recurrence or metastasis. In infections, the mitotic index is used to determine the effectiveness of treatment and prognosis of the disease.

Thus, measuring the mitotic index is an important tool for assessing the proliferative activity of tissue and cells, which is important for diagnosis, treatment monitoring and prognosis of various diseases.

Mitotic index (MI) is one of the main indicators of cellular proliferative activity of epithelium, mesenchyme and metaphyseal tissues. This reflects the tendency of proliferating cells to divide. The index is considered a universal indicator because it is highly sensitive to changes in the intensity of proliferation. But the index does not determine the exact rate of mitotic processes; it only reveals its very presence. Based on this indicator, one cannot draw conclusions about the cause of mitosis and its effects. The reliability of clinical research in this area is low. MI is mainly informative for detecting tumor growth. With neoplastic growth, the parameter can be significantly increased. It begins to grow 2 weeks after the appearance of the tumor. Also, the indicator may increase briefly with malignancy of simple cysts, rejection of necrosis, or formation of hygroma. The index for inflammatory processes drops noticeably after 3 weeks of stay. In any case, MI should be assessed only in conjunction with other data, including histological and radiographic.