The histochemistry of armadillo skin.
The histochemistry of armadillo skin has been studied. The dendritic cells are extremely large, very sharply outlined by methods for alkaline phosphatase and alpha-naphthyl-acetate esterase, and they are dopa-negative. The mastocytes, however, are dopa-oxidase-positive, probably due to peroxidase rather than tyrosinase activity. The giant cells of the granulomas normally seen in the dermis of the armadillo are strongly beta-glucuronidase-positive. These giant cells are evidently foreign body cells reacting to the crystals always present in the dermis of the armadillo. The centre of these crystals, which are cholesterol and fat-negative, is alkaline phosphatase-positive. Further study of the mastocytes and dendritic cells is necessary to elucidate their nature.
D000110:Acetylcholinesterase / Q000032:analysis; D000135:Acid Phosphatase / Q000032:analysis; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000032:analysis; D000818:Animals; D001135:Armadillos / Q000378:metabolism*; D004950:Esterases / Q000032:analysis; D005966:Glucuronidase / Q000032:analysis; D006101:Granuloma, Giant Cell / Q000201:enzymology; D014442:Monophenol Monooxygenase / Q000032:analysis; D012867:Skin / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000201:enzymology*; D004490:Xenarthra / Q000378:metabolism*
D014442:Monophenol Monooxygenase; D004950:Esterases; D000110:Acetylcholinesterase; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase; D000135:Acid Phosphatase; D005966:Glucuronidase