The Dendritic Cell System and Mast Cells in Non-Epidermal Stratified Squamous Epithelium

Abstract

THE occurrence of the dendritic cell system has been investigated in mammalian non-epidermal stratified squamous epithelium. Epithelium was split from the underlying connective tissue by treatment at 4° C. overnight¹ with pancreatin in Hanks balanced salt solution² adjusted to pH 7.8 with sodium bicarbonate. The epithelium was stained supravitally in a solution of 0.01 per cent toluidin blue and 0.05 per cent sodium bicarbonate in Hanks balanced salt solution for one hour or longer at room temperature. It was then inspected from the basal side. In this manner the œsophageal epithelium of the cow, the pig, the cat and Macaca irus F. Cuv., as well as the epithelium of the vagina and the portio vaginalis uteri of man and Macaca irus have been examined. Furthermore, sections of biopsies of the human portio vaginalis uteri, impregnated with gold by the Gairns method as modified by Becker et al. ³, have been examined.