Abstract
The fate of the keratohyalin granules of the esophageal epithelium in the naked mouse have been studied with electron microscopy. The tissue was fixed in phosphate buffered 1% osmium tetroxide and embedded in Epon.
Keratohyalin granules occur in abundance in the granular layers of the esophageal epithelium. The earliest stage in the formation of the keratohyalin granules appeared to be small drops without membrane-bound. All the keratohyalin granules were surrounded by a halo of ribosome particles. The keratohyalin granules appeared to have been formed from the numerous ribosomes. At some points there is a suggestion that these ribosomes are incorporated into the kerathhyalin granule. As they matured, in addition to the less dense substance, they accumulated a core or a dense globule. Sometimes several vacuoles are seen in the dense portion of the large keratohyalin granules. Some of the tonofilaments are connected to the keratohyalin granules. After the keratohyalin granules were scattered throughout the cytoplasm, the fibers of the origin of keratin patern which were composed of three layers are seen in the last masses. In some instances, keratohyalin-like granules are seen in the nuclei or mitochondria of the granular layers.
