Merkel Cells in the Human Fetal and Adult Esophagus

Merkel cells in the stratified squamous nonkeratinized epithelium of the human oesophagus

“…The average density of MCs in the oesophageal epithelium of the middle part was 0.5 cell per 1.02 cm (average length of the specimen). The average density of MCs in the oesophageal epithelium of all specimens was 5.7 cell per 1.12 cm (average length of the specimen), which is a higher number compared with data published by Schultz et al (2003). Harmse et al (1999) found in his study that four of five cases showed an evident increase in MCs num-Merkel cells in human oesophagus -they have a comparable immunoprofile -they are in a comparable location as single cells lying in the basal layers of the stratified epithelium -they have a comparable density -they both occur in fetal life -they both have long cytoplasmic dendrites, especially in fetal life Merkel cells are found in both types of squamous stratified epithelia, in keratinized (e.g., skin) and in nonkeratinized epithelia (e.g., oral mucosa, hard palate, oesophagus).…”