title: Number and distribution of interstitial cells lining the epidermis of normal human skin from different anatomical locations.
abstract: A study was conducted to determine the number and distribution of interstitial cells lining the epidermis of normal human skin from various anatomical locations. Five to seven normal human skin specimens per each anatomical site were collected from surgical specimens, mostly with pigmented nevi. Ten anatomical locations were classified; and a total of 65 normal human skin samples were evaluated. The number of interstitial cells lining the epidermis was quantified under light microscopy using a computer-assisted image analyzer. Two types of interstitial cells were recognized beneath the dermo-epidermal junction of normal human skin: cells containing oval nuclei and spindle-shaped cells containing elongated nuclei. As for the number of oval cells, no significant difference was found among the anatomical locations. In contrast, significantly greater numbers of spindle-shaped cells were found in the palm (4.11 + 1.24; p < 0.01), sole (3.52 + 0.83; p < 0.001) and buttock (2.52 + 0.49; p < 0.01), compared with those in the anterior trunk (0.60 + 0.22). In normal skin of the palm and sole, the number of spindle-shaped cells located beneath the apices of rete ridges (7.35 + 1.56) was significantly greater than along the dermal papillae (1.39 + 0.39, p < 0.01). However, cells containing oval nuclei also predominated beneath the apices of rete ridges, but the difference was not significant. In summary, the present study demonstrated that the number of spindle-shaped cells, quantified by H & E staining, was significantly greater beneath the apices of rete ridges than in dermal papillae. The number was greater in palm and sole skin compared with other samples of normal human skin. This data may relate to the glabrous nature of palm and sole skin.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Showa University School of Medicine, 1-5-8, Hatanodai, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo 142-8666 Japan.
authors.forename: Dong Qing
authors.initials: DQ
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Hirohiko
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sueki
authors.forename: Masafumi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Iijima
mesh_terms: D018952:Antigens, CD34 / Q000378:metabolism; D000078404:Epidermal Cells; D004817:Epidermis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D026122:Factor XIIIa / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008854:Microscopy, Electron
chemical_list: D018952:Antigens, CD34; D026122:Factor XIIIa