An Ultrastructural Study of Melanocytes and Mast Cells in the Depigmented Skin in Vitiligo

Abstract

In the depigmented patch of ten vitiligo patients a few melanocytes were seen. Coagulation, fatty degeneration, focal aggregation of melanosomes and vacuolation were some of the changes seen in their cytoplasm. Many indeterminate cells were also observed. These resembled Langerhans cells morphologically but were without Birbeck granules. Basement membrane architect was lost. In the dermis mast cells and plasma like cells were seen. Collagenised nerves and blood vessels with reactive endothelial cells were the salient features.