EM diversity of neuroendocrine (Merkel) cells of the human skin.

Ultrastructural differences in size of granules of adjacent Merkel cells belonging to normal skin of three patients are demonstrated. The differences, apparent on simple examination of micrographs, were confirmed using morphometric and statistical analysis. Differences are statistically significant (p less than or equal to 0.001) for maximum diameter and granular area. The existence of a NE (Merkel) cells system or population in the skin similar to that observed in diverse epithelial sheets of the human body, is suggested.