Ultrastructural Changes in Human Skin Maintained in Organ Culture

Adult human skin maintained in organ culture for up to 3 days was studied electron microscopically to determine the earliest changes in structure. An alteration of the normal keratinization process and migration of epidermal cells were observed during the first 48 hr. At 72 hr. no membraneoating granules and no keratohyalin were present. The basal cells remained essentially normal throughout this period. A new basal lamina appeared under the migrating epidermal cells.