Semi-and ultra-thin section study of lepra lepromatosa.

The first electron microscope research on skin biopsy material from patients with lepra lepromatosa was made by Brieger and Glauert (:!). Since 1958 research ~roups from Kyoto University, Japan, and the Instituto Venezolano de Investigaciones Cientlficas and Ministry of H ealth and Social Assistanc(' in Caracas, V cnczuela (J maeda et oZ. (3.U), Nishiura (0), and Yamamoto et oZ. (11.12) have been carrying out a complete study of the ultrastructure of lcprosy cells and M. leprae. In the German Iiteraturc wc find a newly writtcn review by G. · Klingmiiller ( .. ) of his electron microscopic findings. Although these micromorphologic research methods have clarified the structurc of M . leprae and the reactions of phagocyting cells, they have Jed to other problems. The position of a lepra cell in relation to surrounding ti ssues in an elcctron-microscopic investigation depends on the preparation. Examination of the finc ti ssue structure of fresh nerve lesions is very difficult, since prcp:uations of the fin e branches of cutaneous nerves for investigation of their ultrastructure are very hard to obtain. It seems, purposeful, therefore, to combine the histologic investigations of light microscopy wHh the cytologic examinations of e1cctron microscopy. This would allow a choice of inruvidual cells from the same biopsy material. A method which has proved successful b egins with a u ght microscope survey of stained scmi-thin sections which were embedded in Epon or Maraglas. Sections worthy of furth er study can then be investigated by electronmicroscopic examination of consecutive homomorphic ultra-thin sections from the same biopsy material.