Human macrophages from skin: II. Histochemical, cytochemical and scanning electron microscopical identification.

The recent development of a simple not invasive method for isolating macrophages from the skin of normal subjects has also provided a unique opportunity for morphological studies. Human macrophages isolated from skin blisters (n = 34) (Michna 1988) are identified as substratum using the proof of unspecific esterase with alpha-naphthyl-butyrate. The typical morphological features of human macrophages are demonstrated in a transmission and scanning electron microscopic study. In a cytochemical part the lysosomal potenties of these human macrophages are displayed.