Evidence Against Presence of Chromaffin Cells in Human Skin

“Chromaffin cells” in human digital skin, described by previous workers, are readily recognized, but their granules do not produce the true chromaffin reaction of catecholamine, nor do they become green when subsequently stained with the Sevki technique. Although “chromaffin cells” differ morphologically from mast cells, they have similar tinctorial characteristics. Many cells were seen that could be accepted as either mast cells or “chromaffin cells.” These cells in human skin are unaffected by intra-arterial reserpine and had the normal appearance in three patients with chronic degeneration of the sympathetic nerves. It is suggested that the “chromaffin cells” are mast cell variants and are not involv1ed in the autonomic effector mechanism.