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ELECTRON MICROSCOPIC OBSERVATION OF DYSKERATOTIC CELLS IN ACQUIRED ZINC DEFICIENCY
Author(s) -
Hanada Katsumi,
Hada Tomoko,
Hashimoto Shizuo Satoh Isao,
Katabira Yasuo
Publication year - 1984
Publication title -
the journal of dermatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.9
H-Index - 65
eISSN - 1346-8138
pISSN - 0385-2407
DOI - 10.1111/j.1346-8138.1984.tb01485.x
Subject(s) - cytoplasm , organelle , chemistry , zinc , pathology , superoxide dismutase , biophysics , biology , enzyme , medicine , biochemistry , organic chemistry
This paper describes the electron microscopic structure of dyskeratotic cells observed in cutaneous lesions of 3 cases with acquired zinc deficiency. Double‐zoned cytoplasm consisted of amorphous cell organelles and irregular tonofilaments occasionally containing lipid droplets and melanosomes. Small nuclei were seen in many dyskeratotic cells around the blister. Various degrees of alteration were noted in cells in erythematous lesions following the disappearance of all desmosomes. The halo formation of dyskeratotic cells with double‐zoned cytoplasm indicates an alteration in keratinocytes, which may be caused by superoxide radical anions resulting from inactivity of superoxide dismutase, a zinc‐dependent enzyme.