Objective:To evaluate the effects of different pneumoperitoneums used in laparoscopy on the growth of human cervical carcinoma cells in vitro.Methods:Human cervical carcinoma cell line(CaSki)were cultured in vitro and then exposed to pneumoperitoneums of pure carbon dioxide or pure nitrogen gas with the untreated group as control. The cell growth was determined by MTT assay

flow cytometry and electron microscopy. Results:Carbon dioxide stimulated the cell growth from 48h to 120h after treatment. For nitrogen gas group

there was a transient descent of cell proliferation from 48h to 72h after treatment. The tumor cells of carbon dioxide group in G2-M phases significantly increased. Active karyokinesis was observed in carbon dioxide group while slight mitochondrion swelling was observed in nitrogen gas group with the nucleus space expanded. Conclusions:Carbon dioxide pneumoperitoneum could increase the growth of human cervical carcinoma cells in vitro whereas nitrogen gas pneumoperitoneum had inhibiting effect on the cell growth.