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Small granules of the superficial epidermis

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Zusammenfassung

Große, nicht membrangebundene (Keratohyalin) und kleine membrangebundene Granula (Keratinosomen, Membrane-Coating granules) sind in der oberflächlichen Epidermis reichlich vorhanden. Nach Injecktion kann Ferritin in den Zellzwischenräumen, sowohl innerhalb der Invaginationen der Plasmamembrane als auch innerhalb der kleinen Granula, beobachtet werden. Phagocytose des Ferritins bei den kleinen Granula unterstützt die Auffassung, daß sie in der Zellperipherie entstehen und dann in die Richtung des Zellinneren, aber nicht in die umgekehrte Richtung, wandern.

Obwohl einige kleine Granula eine charakteristische laminäre Struktur haben, zeigen die meisten nicht diese Struktur. Die meisten kleinen Granula reagieren positiv auf Glykogen und Mucopolysaccharide mit Perjodsäure-Silber-Methenamin-Färbung.

Die Aktivität saurer Hydrolasen ist diffus und nicht nur auf die kleinen Granula im Str. Granulosum beschränkt, obwohl auch einige Granula im oberen Str. Spinosum positiv reagieren.

Die Variationen des strukturellen, histochemischen und funktionellen Charakters unterstützen die Vermutung, daß die kleinen Granula der oberflächlichen Epidermis aus einer heterogenen Gruppe von Organellen bestehen.

Summary

Large non-membrane-bound keratohyaline granules and small membrane-bound granules (keratinosomes, membrane-coating granules) abound in the superficial epidermis. Following injection, ferritin is seen in intercellular spaces, within invaginations of the plasma membrane and within the small granules. Phagocytosis of ferritin by small granules supports the concept that they evolve from the cell periphery and move to the cell interior rather than the reverse.

Some small granules have a characteristic internal laminated structure, but the majority do not. Most small granules stain positively with periodic acid-silver methenamine for glycogen and mucopolysaccharide. Acid hydrolase activity is diffuse and not localized to small granules within the granular layer, but some granules in the upper spinous layer may stain positively.

These variations in structural, histochemical and functional characteristics support the hypothesis that small granules of the superficial epidermis are a heterogenous group of organelles.

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This study was supported by Atomic Energy Commission Grant AT-(40-1)-3578.

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Olson, R.L., Nordquist, J. & Everett, M.A. Small granules of the superficial epidermis. Arch. klin. exp. Derm. 234, 15–24 (1969). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00496247

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