Abstract

The cellular mechanisms relating to the accumulation and metabolism of estrogens (eg. 17β-Estradiol, E₂) are gaining in significance for the diagnostics and therapy of mamma carcinoma The classical mechanism of the intracellular E₂ action is described as the regulation of DNA transcription and protein synthesis via E₂-specific receptors [1]. Investigations on the accumulation kinetics of estrogens have to be performed on vital cells in aqueous environments. The optical properties of E₂ and E₂-induced cell reactions were first analysed by confocal laser scan microscopy However no E₂ specific intracellular fluorescence was detected. When a laser phase microscope (LPM) was used differences of the intensity profiles of the phase shifts were measured in single cells exposed to E₂ compared to control cells Although the LPM method indicated metabolic changes on a nanoscale, the results were ambiguous since the phase shifts were influenced by refractive indices as well as the cell morphology Cell structures can also change during metabolic processes

© 2000 IEEE