Ultrastructural morphometry of epidermal Langerhans' cells: introduction of a simple method for a comprehensive quantitative analysis of the cells.

The ultrastructural demonstration of Birbeck granules is the most exact morphological marker for Langerhans' cells (LCs). We have developed a specific ultrastructural morphometric technique that enables quantitative evaluation of the numerical and volume density of LCs as well as quantification of cellular details. Evaluation of normal human skin of the hand and lower buttock showed that the epidermis of the hand contained a significantly higher numerical and volume density of LCs. At the cellular level, these LCs exhibited signs of increased metabolic activity, as reflected by the morphometric data of the nucleus, mitochondria, Golgi area, and Birbeck granules. The present technique thus allows functional characterization of LCs at the morphological level.