<prompt> The characteristic feature of apoptosis on light microscopy is:Cellular swellingNuclear compactionIntact cell membraneCytoplasmic eosinophlia  <response>: Ans. b Nuclear compactionRef: Robbins 9thpg 53Here student gets confused in 2 options b and c..On light microscopy, most characteristic feature is condensation of nuclear chromatin and not intactness of cell membraneIntact cell membrane and lack of inflammation differentiates apoptosis from necrosis. 