Touch domes and Merkel cells in hamster cheek pouch epithelium.

Minute dome-shaped elevations on the epithelial surface of hamster buccal pouch were counted in full-thickness whole mounts of detached pouch epithelium. Domes were examined by light and electron microscopy. Each dome consisted of thickened epithelium containing numerous Merkel cells with associated unmyelinated terminal axons. The pouch domes have structural characteristics in common with Haarscheiben, or touch domes, described in hair-bearing skin in man and other mammals and must not be confused with focal hyperplastic or precancerous lesions.