Ultrastructural observation of the stratum corneum lipids in hairless mouse epidermis characterized by ruthenium tetroxied fixation / 医学研究生学报

ABSTRACT

Objectives: To reveal the morphological features of the stratum corneum lipids in hairless mouse epidermis. Methods: Ruthenium tetroxide and osmium tetroxide were compared as post fixative in the preparation of hairless epidermis for transmission electron microscopic examination. Results: Both reagents reveled characteristic membrane coating granules within the granular layer. Whereas, the transformation of the membrane coating granule contents into multiple lamellae at the interface between the granular and cornified layers and the persistence of these lamellae through all levels of the stratum corneum were demonstrated only by ruthenium tetroxide fixation. Conclusions: The distinctive patterning of the intercellular lamellae reflects the nonrandom organization of the stratum corneum lipids. In addition, the ruthenium tetroxide postfixation technique is a useful method in the investigation of the morphological features of the stratum corneum lipids.