ELECTRON MICROSCOPY OF PERIPHERAL NERVE TERMINALS AND MARGINAL MELANOCYTES IN VITILIGO

[摘要] Degenerative and regenerative changes were found in terminal regions of a small proportion of nerves supplying central and marginal areas of vitiliginous lesions, and the probability is that the affected neurites are autonomic in function. This finding could provide a morphological basis for previous observations on changes in skin temperature and sweat production in vitiiigo. Melanocytes identical in appearance to those in pale epidermis of freckled subjects were present in maringal areas of lesions which suggests that the sequence of development of vitiligo, where the melanocyte is concerned, may be a progression from a normally active cell, through an inactive phase, to the final condition of Langerhans cell. Whether or not such a sequence could be attributed to withdrawal of a normal neural control of melanogenesis is discussed. In 2 cases of the present series, mast cells appeared to be increased in number in depigmented areas, and in all, the general cellularity of the sub-epidermal region appeared greater than normal. Vesicular profiles of unknown nature were also present in this situation.