HISTOCHEMICAL AND ULTRAVIOLET MICROSCOPIC STUDIES OF CHRONIC DERMATOSES AND THE CORIUM MEMBRANE

[摘要] Fresh biopsy specimens of chronic dermatoses, particularly psoriasis vulgaris, eczema, lichen simplex chronicus, and normal control skin specimens, were fixed by freeze-drying, embedded in parafin or carbowax in vacuo, and drymounted microscopic sections were studied histochemically. A battery of 8 histochemical procedures was used to identify nucleoproteins, proteins, glycoproteins, sulfhydryl groups, alkaline phosphatase, fats and phospholipids. Corium membranes, a new term proposed instead of the old term basement membrane, and ground substances were investigated. Changes found in chronic dermatoses differed quantitatively from normal skin, were not distinctive or diagnostic, and were considered secondary in nature. The evidence collected would oppose the specific metabolic patho-genesis or etiology of psoriasis vulgaris, eczema and lichen simplex chronicus. U.-v. absorption microscopy with the Polaroid color-translating u.-v. instrument showed slight variations from normal in some chronic dermatoses. In psoriasis vulgaris a distinctive abnormality of keratin u.-v. absorption was identified at low wavelengths. It could be imitated by exposing normal skin to the proteolytic activity of stools from chronic ulcerative colitis. Based on the limited information available, reasons are advanced for implicating a mucinase in the etiology of psoriasis vulgaris which, with or without other hitherto unknown factors, may be the catalyst in the development of the specific psoriatic reaction of the skin.