title: Histochemical and electron microscopical investigations on the calcified keratin in the horn pearls of a glans carcinoma (calcified keratin).
abstract: The calcified keratin in the horn pearls of a glans carcinoma has been studied by histochemical and ultrastructural methods. The former have shown that the calcified areas contain glycoproteins and acid proteoglycans and have a concentration of sulphydryl groups greater than that of the surrounding, uncalcified keratin. Electron microscopy has shown the presence of intracellular needle- and filament-like crystals closely related to the keratinocyte filaments and similar to those found in other calcified tissues. Besides the close relationship discovered between crystals and keratinocyte filaments, the other main conclusions are that keratin calcification is an intracellular process and that keratin molecules are responsible for the induction and regulation of the process.
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000473:pathology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006801:Humans; D007633:Keratins / Q000032:analysis; D007634:Keratitis / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D010412:Penile Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000648:ultrastructure
chemical_list: D007633:Keratins