Early fine structural changes in human epidermis following application of croton oil.
Early epidermal changes in human subjects following application of 10% croton oil in acetone were studied by electron microscopy. The prominent changes observed at 1 and 5 hours were degeneration of epidermal cells and intercellular edema in the basal and spinous layers. One type of degeneration was homogenization and aggregation of the tonofilaments of keratinocytes at 1 hour, which may explain the presence of dyskeratotic cells at 5 hours. Another type was of a cytolytic nature as evidenced by severe perinuclear edema of keratinocytes and destruction of Langerhans' cells with outpouring of Birbeck's granules in the intercellular spaces.
D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000648:ultrastructure; D003436:Croton Oil; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000648:ultrastructure; D003877:Dermatitis, Contact / Q000473:pathology*; D004817:Epidermis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D006801:Humans; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D013997:Time Factors
D003436:Croton Oil