Electron microscope picture of the epithelium and epithelial-connective borderline in leukoplakia of the buccal mucous membrane.

The studies were carried out on samples collected from the buccal mucous membrane with highly advanced leukoplakia lesions. The material was fixed in 5% glutaraldehyde buffered to pH 7.4 cacodylate buffer and 1% osmium tetraoxide. Upon dehydration the material was embedded in Epon 812. The electronograms were obtained with the use of a Tesla BS 500 transmission electron microscope. The number of cellular organellae was increased in the basic layer cells of the epithelium. Within the spinous zone a greater number of cellular layers was encountered. The connections between the cells took the form of either desmosomes, or else of direct cytoplasmatic continuity. Among the epithelial cells one might observe macrophages. The epithelial-connective borderline was similar to the normal picture. The obtained results made it possible to regard leukoplakia as a dynamic process, characterized by hyperactivity of all the epithelial layers and cells.