Mitotic Langerhans Cells in the Normal Human Epidermis: Light and Electron Microscopic Observations in All Mitotic Phases

In three experiments of the normal human epidermis under different biopsy and fixative buffer conditions, Langerhans cells (LCs) in all mitotic phases were found with the Thin-Section-Reembedding and Ultrathin-Sectioning (TRUS) technique; two in the prophase, five in the metaphase, two in the anaphase and two in the telophase. The serial light microscopic examination showed much characteristic features, namely the shapes of mitotic LCs in each section were quite different in one cell as well as between individual cells, even in the same mitotic phase. No round mitotic LCs were seen. Two LCs in the prophase were detected in the specimens prefixed in the fixative dissolved in dialysate (Kindaly 2) instead of buffer solution. Birbeck granules were witnessed in all phases.