Surface and volume density of CD1a+ Langerhans cells in the human oral mucosa: a stereological study using vertical sections.

Quantification of the surface and volume density of CD1a+ Langerhans cells in the human oral mucosa was carried out using a recently described technique of intercept counting on vertical sections, and the point counting method, respectively. The surface density of LC, i.e. surface area of LC per unit epithelial volume, was estimated between 310.8 mm-1 621.0 mm-1 (mean 420.3 mm-1), and estimated coefficients of error (estCE) were between 2.92% and 22.15%. Estimates of the volume density of LC, i.e. fraction of epithelial volume occupied by LC, yielded values from 1.56% to 13.15% (mean 5.96%) with estimated CE's of 5.69% to 25.94%. The investigation demonstrates the value of newer and older stereological tools to quantify complex cells such as LC on ordinary vertical sections without expensive equipment.