Preliminary Cutaneous Pathology Observations with the Freeze-Fracture Technique

Abstract

The freeze-fracture technique was used to study acantholytic cells of untreated pemphigus patients and the cells of histocytosis X. On the membranes of acanthocytosis cells, the particles are randomly distributed and lack the typical desmosome organization, while tight and gap junctions are still found. The study of the cells of histocytosis X provided a better understanding of the structure of the Langerhans granule. The paracrystalline organization of the inner face of the disc-shaped portion does not seem to involve the membranes limiting the granule, but rather to be confined to a periodically arranged, possibly proteic substance contained between them.