Presence of melanophages in the normal Japanese skin

Human skin samples were obtained from the normal peripheral portion of specimens removed from persons with various cutaneous and systemic diseases. A portion of each specimen was embedded in paraffin and another part in water-soluble embedding medium, and some was frozen in liquid nitrogen for light microscopy and histochemistry. Some specimens were also investigated by electron microscopy. In 31 of 32 specimens, cells containing brown pigment were observed in the superficial dermis. Because both acid phosphatase and Masson-Fontana staining were positive and the 3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine reaction negative, the cells were considered to be melanophages. Electron microscopic examination revealed that these cells contained melanosome-laden phagosomes. Some fibroblastlike cells were also observed with intracellular single or multiple melanosomes. This study documents the occurrence of melanophages in the normal skin of Japanese subjects.