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Ultrastructure of Xanthelasma palpebrarum as revealed by freeze etching techniques

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Summary

Freeze etching observations of a case of xanthelasma palpebrarum are described. The lucent vacuoles in the foam cells were shown to be lamellar lipid structures in freeze etched preparations. No definite membrane of lipid vacuoles could be seen. The pattern of lamellar lipid in the foam cells differed from that in subcutaneous fat cells. Filaments in the cytoplasm of the foam cells were also observed and their possible function is discussed.

Zusammenfassung

Untersuchungen bei einem Patienten mit Xanthelasma palpebrarum nach Gefrierätzung des Gewebes werden mitgeteilt. Es zeigte sich, daß die offenen Vacuolen der Schaumzellen lamellare Lipidstrukturen aufwiesen, wenn das Gewebe nach dem Gefrierätzverfahren aufbereitet wurde. Die Lipidvacuolen wiesen keine erkennbaren Membranen auf. Die lamellaren Lipidstrukturen der Schaumzellen unterschieden sich weiterhin von den subcutanen Fettzellen.

Im Cytoplasma der Schaumzellen wurden Filamente beobachtet, deren mögliche Rolle erörtert wird.

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Hasegawa, T., Uyeda, K. Ultrastructure of Xanthelasma palpebrarum as revealed by freeze etching techniques. Arch. Derm. Forsch. 248, 347–354 (1974). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00595553

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00595553

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