|
The skin of Korean was studied with the combined skin-splitting dopa technique to investigate the distribution of melanocytes in the various regions of the body, age and sex differences as well as the find structural characteristics of the cell. The statistical analysis of the melanocyte counts from one hundred fourteen samplings and the electron microscopic observation were summarized as follows: 1. The total average of the melanocyte counts was 967/㎟ in varying from region to region with a decreasing order: prepuce, groin and perineum, face, upper and lower extremities, and trunk. 2. The melanocyte counts of the prepuce, groin and perineum were found to be significantly higher than those of the face, trunk and extremities. 3. The melanocyte counts in the prepuce of the adult group(20-60years) were significantly higher than those of the young group(1-20 years). 4. No significant sex difference in the melanocyte counts was found. 5. The melanocytes were dendritic or stellated in shape, and localized in the basal cell layer of the epidermis with their elaborate cytoplasmic processes, extending upward into the interstices of Malpighian cells. 6. The melanocytes were distinguished from the surrounding keratinocytes by the presence of the developing melanosomes in the cytoplasm which had no tonofilaments, and the absence of desmosomes around the plasma membrane. 7. The melanosomes were elongated and membrane bound bodies measured about 0.1-0.3 by 0.3-0.6㎛ in diameter with an internal lamellar periodicity in the early stage of development. 8. The melanin granules were accumulated mainly in the Malpighian cells and diminished progressively toward the free surface of the skin.
|