The effect of aging on the density and distribution of oral mucosal Langerhans cells.

Previous studies localizing the Langerhans cells in the hamster cheek pouch by ATPase staining have shown these cells to be distributed in a nonrandom pattern. The Langerhans cells have been found in both focal and interfocal arrangements. In this study we utilized two groups, Group 1 (six animals), was 5-6 weeks old, and Group 2 (six animals), was 78-80 weeks old. The Langerhans cells were stained for ATPase, following the epidermal stripping of the cheek pouch with 1% glacial acetic acid. The number of Langerhans was statistically decreased interfocally and there was a decrease in the number of focal aggregations, while there was a concomitant increase in the number of Langerhans cells in each unit. These alterations in the density and distribution of the Langerhans cells may suggest a lowering of the immune response, and increase susceptibility to irritants and carcinogenic agents in the oral cavity.