Summary Following extensive tattooing, a 31‐year‐old man developed symptoms similar to those of systemic sarcoidosis. Histological examination of the skin lesions, regional lymph nodes and the lung tissue revealed noncaseating granulomatous reaction. Uveitis was also observed, Electron microscopic examination of lung specimens revealed fragments of red tattoo granules. X‐ray microanalysis of the pigment granules observed in red skin and lung lesions showed elements of mercury, aluminium and silicon. The finding of tattoo pigments in the lung tissues has not been previously described.

Histological and immunological examinations were performed on the skin of a newly established strain of hairless rat (Hirosaki hairless rat; HHR). The appearance of the mutant rat skin was marked by resembles to human skin with wrinkles and scarce vellus hair. The presence of scattered dilated follicular cysts in the mid-dermis was the most predominant microscopic change. Electron microscopically, some of the basal cells contained many oval organelles in the cytoplasm, although their role was not clear. Langerhans cells were observed, but melanocytes were lacking in the epidermis. Immunofluorescence technique demonstrated Ia-positive cells (presumably Langerhans cells) in epidermal sheets from the soles of the mutants, which also developed contact sensitivity to dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB). HHRs may be a useful experimental model for studies of allergic as well as nonallergic dermatitis requiring gross observation and wrinkled skin.

A 33-year-old woman with right-sided facial hemiatrophy associated with the acrosclerotic type of systemic scleroderma is described. Symptoms of systemic scleroderma were observed more markedly in the right side.

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