Abstract
The purpose of this study has been to obtain information on the development of the envelop of horny cells that resists the action of keratinolytic agents. Toward this end the epidermis, oral mucosa, and tongue epithelium of various vertebrates, as well as the isolated envelopes of horny cells, were examined by electron microscopy. It was found that small cytoplasmic granules (1,000 to 5,000 A) that develop within differentiating epithelial cells move toward the cell periphery, and after fusion with the plasma membrane, empty their contents into the intercellular spaces. The content of the granules spreads over the cell surfaces, and subsequently a thickened and coated cell envelope is formed that resists the action of keratinolytic agent. The membrane-coating granule is regarded as a specific differentiation product of the keratinizing epithelium. It contains numerous inner membranes and is assumed to engage in synthetic activities such as, perhaps, the formation of polysaccharides.
Full Text
The Full Text of this article is available as a PDF (1.2 MB).
Selected References
These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.
- ALBRIGHT J. T., LISTGARTEN M. A. Observations of the fine structure of the hamster cheek pouch epithelium. Arch Oral Biol. 1962 Sep-Oct;7:613–620. doi: 10.1016/0003-9969(62)90068-7. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- FREI J. V., SHELDON H. A small granular component of the cytoplasm of keratinizing epithelia. J Biophys Biochem Cytol. 1961 Dec;11:719–724. doi: 10.1083/jcb.11.3.719. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- HORSTMANN E., KNOOP A. Elektronenmikroskopische Studien an der Epidermis. I. Rattenpfote. Z Zellforsch Mikrosk Anat. 1958;47(3):348–362. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- LAGERMALM G., PHILIP B., LINDBERG J. Occurrence of thin membranes in the surface layers of human skin and in finger nails. Nature. 1951 Dec 22;168(4288):1080–1081. doi: 10.1038/1681080b0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- LUFT J. H. Improvements in epoxy resin embedding methods. J Biophys Biochem Cytol. 1961 Feb;9:409–414. doi: 10.1083/jcb.9.2.409. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- MATOLTSY A. G., BALSAMO C. A. A study of the components of the cornified epithelium of human skin. J Biophys Biochem Cytol. 1955 Jul 25;1(4):339–360. doi: 10.1083/jcb.1.4.339. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- MATOLTSY A. G., MATOLTSY M. A study of morphological and chemical properties of keratohyalin granules. J Invest Dermatol. 1962 Apr;38:237–247. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- SELBY C. C. An electron microscope study of thin sections of human skin. II. Superficial cell layers of footpad epidermis. J Invest Dermatol. 1957 Aug;29(2):131–149. doi: 10.1038/jid.1957.80. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- WISLOCKI G. B., FAWCETT D. W., DEMPSEY E. W. Staining of stratified squamous epithelium of mucous membranes and skin of man and monkey by the periodic acid-Schiff method. Anat Rec. 1951 Jul;110(3):359–375. doi: 10.1002/ar.1091100307. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- ZELICKSON A. S., HARTMANN J. F. An electron microscope study of normal human non-keratinizing oral mucosa. J Invest Dermatol. 1962 Feb;38:99–107. doi: 10.1038/jid.1962.20. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- von WETTSTEIN, LAGERHOLM B., ZECH H. Cellular changes in the psoriatic epidermis. Acta Derm Venereol. 1961;41:115–134. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]