[True pemphigus: electron microscopic and radioautographic research on the skin]

Skin biopsy specimens of 19 patients with pemphigus vulgaris have been examined by electron microscopy and radioautography. Ultrastructural changes in the epidermocytes (impaired nucleolar system, lysis of the cytoplasmic organelles, disappearance of desmosomes) reflect impaired protein biosynthesis. In vitro radioautography with 3H uridine and 3H thymidine has shown inadequate RNA and DNA synthesis in the epidermal cells. These findings are regarded in the light of the plastic insufficiency concept: the plastic deficiency syndrome.