Figure 1.

Spatial distribution of mast cells in rat skin. (A) Skin samples were taken from a rat leg around the ST36 using a skin biopsy punch. (B) Direct toluidine blue stained skin sample was spread naturally by a homemade skin gripper for stereoscopic examination. (C) The lateral distribution of mast cells was examined by stereoscope. (D) Enlargement of the red frame area in (C). (E) The longitudinal distribution of mast cells examined by microscope. (F) Enlargement of the red frame area in (E), with mast cells indicated by yellow arrows. The scale bar is shown in the lower right corner of each examined figure.