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The author has studied to investigate the distribution of epidermal Langerhans cells in the various regions of the body, age and sex differences as well as the fine structural characteristics of the cell. One hundred eighty two skin specimens were obtained by biopsy or surgery from various regions of the body. The epidermal sheets separated from the dermis were reacted with OKT_6 monoclonal antibody and horse radish peroxidase conjugated goat anti-mouse immunoglobulin, and followed by enzyme histochemistry using 3,3’-diaminobenzidine and hydrogen peroxide. The statistical analysis of epidermal Langerhans cell counts and the electron microscopice observation were summarized as follows: 1. The average epidermal Langerhans cell counts were 667 cells/㎟ in young group, 771 cells/㎟ in the adult group. This difference of cell counts between young and adult group was proved to be statistically significant. 2. The epidermal Langerhans cell counts varied with regions of the body. In the adult group, the abdomen and back were among those of highest cell counts followed by the neck, arm, groin and perineum, thigh, face, forearm, leg and prepuce in decreasing order. The cell count of the prepuce was significantly lower, while those of the abdomen and back were significantly higher than those of other regions. In the young group, there was no significant regional difference in epidermal Langerhans cell counts except the prepuce which found significant lower. 3. No significant sex difference of epidermal Langerhans cell count was observed in both young and adult groups. 4. Langerhans cells were revealed as characteristic dendritic cells by OKT_6 monoclonal antibody and enzyme histochemistry. 5. In electron microscopy, epidermal Langerhans cells were distinguished from the surrounding keratinocytes by the presence of peculiar rod-shaped structures and small vesicles in the cytoplasm which had no tonofilaments.
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