Ultrastructural cytochemical visualization of chromium in the skin of sensitized guinea pigs

Using a modified sulfide silver method for electron microscopy, the intraepidermal and intracellular localization of epicutaneously applied potassium dichromate was investigated at varying times in sensitized and nonsensitized guinea pigs. The hapten penetrated rapidly into the epidermis. There was a homogeneous extra-and intracellular staining of the keratinocytes in the upper epidermis. The basal and suprabasal cells, by contrast, exhibited a predominant extracellular and plasma membrane localization of the silver grains. This membrane staining pattern was also observed in the Langerhans cells showing cellular and endocytotic activation in the sensitized animals. No specific cellular uptake of the hapten by the Langerhans cells was found. These results demonstrate that the epicutaneous application of chromate resulted in a characteristic intraepidermal distribution which may be related to the epidermal conversion of the hexavalent chromate to the immunogenic trivalent form. Moreover, the absent intracellular localization of the hapten in the activated Langerhans cells supports the notion that contact allergens can be presented to T cells without prior intracellular processing.