The morphological details of globular keratohyalin granules

In quickly dividing epithelia such as that of the tongue, keratohyalin formation takes place in globular keratohyalin granules (KHG). This is in contrast with the irregular KHG as seen in normal, slowly dividing epidermis. The morphogenesis of the globular KHG is explained in this study. In small KHG, dense aggregates of ribosomes can be seen at the site of blebs. It is suggested that these blebs framed with ribosomes are internalized giving rise to "dense homogeneous deposits" or "single granules". Lipid droplets occur in the upper spinous and horny layer. Globular KHG also contain variable amounts of lipids, and the lipid content seems to be inversely related to the protein content, dependent on the degree of cell differentiation or on the rate of cell turnover. It is suggested that in epithelia with a high cell turnover few rigid keratohyalin components are dispersed in lipids, which maintain a globular shape due to the surface tension.