Ultrastructural studies of allergic contact dermatitis in man. Epidermal cell changes at 3, 6, and 12 h after application of DNCB.

Early epidermal lesions of allergic contact dermatitis were examined by electron microscopy. Normal human volunteers were sensitized to DNCB, and contact reactions were elicited sequentially. Epidermal cell changes at 3 h included: the occurrence of small vacuoles with or without membrane, focal dilatation of intercellular spaces, and the alteration of tonofilaments into short, aggregated bundles. Non-sensitized skin to which DNCB was applied also showed small vacuoles with or without membrane. Monocytes infiltrated into the intercellular spaces which were not dilated, and the neighboring tonofilaments of keratinocytes remained normal.