A two‐dimensional morphological study of corneocytes from healthy dogs and cats and from dogs with atopic dermatitis

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine the dimensions of corneocytes collected from healthy dogs and cats, and from dogs suffering from atopic dermatitis. Samples were collected from the inner pinna, lateral thorax and the groin. D-Squame adhesive discs were used to collect corneocytes from the skin surface and image analysis software was used for measurements. Two differently shaped cells were identified in both animal species. The most common cell type was polygonal, often hexagonal or pentagonal and regular while the second type was smaller, elongated and variable in size and shape. The polygonal cells are corneocytes which probably originate from the interfollicular epidermis. The mean diameter and surface area for healthy canine polygonal corneocytes were 38-43.5 microm and 1092-1436 microm(2). The equivalent Figures for cats were 39.6-48.5 microm and 1183-1772 microm(2). Feline polygonal corneocytes were generally larger than those of the dog. Both feline and canine polygonal corneocytes collected from the ear were generally smaller than those from other body sites. Atopic canine polygonal corneocytes collected from the groin were significantly smaller than healthy groin corneocytes. In healthy dogs the mean length, breadth and surface area of elongated cells were 26.6-35.9 microm, 7.6-10.3 microm and 168.6-240.2 microm(2). The equivalent values for cats were 20.0-37.8 microm, 6.8-9.9 microm and 117.6-245.6 microm(2). The exact nature of the elongated cells is not known but they may be cell fragments or folded corneocytes. They were more common in densely haired skin suggesting the hair follicle as their origin.

The modified corneocyte surface area measurement as an index of epidermal barrier properties: inverse correlation with transepidermal water loss

“…In our study the CSA decreased with increasing number of tape strippings. The mean CSA at the 5th strip for the groin site was still larger (1,653 μm 2 ) than for the same site in the other study (1,436 μm 2 ) . The CSA values measured by our method may be larger than those by the commonly used method.…”

“…Our analyses showed a correlation between CSA and TEWL, showing that the canine CSA is a potentially useful parameter reflecting skin barrier impairment. Measuring the size of canine corneocytes has previously been reported; atopic dog corneocytes were shown to be significantly smaller than those from healthy dogs when sampling the groin area . In that study the canine CSA as a parameter of skin barrier function was not evaluated given that other functional and physical parameters of the SC were not measured for comparison with CSA.…”

“…The same previous study measured corneocytes with a widely accepted method and reported canine CSAs of 1,436 μm 2 for the groin and 1,092 μm 2 for the concave pinna . We used a modified method and the comparative CSA results (after five tape strips) were 1,635 μm 2 for the groin and 1,080 μm 2 for the concave pinna.…”

“…One is that the dog breeds were different. Our subjects were beagles whereas the other study used four different dog breeds as the healthy subjects . Another possible reason is that in the other study five tape strips were removed before collecting corneocyte samples to clear surface debris of the skin.…”

“…In measuring CSA the measured corneocytes were usually selected from the aligned cell sheets as previously reported . In the present study, we applied the modified method to measure isolated corneocytes which did not contact with the single edge of other cells, and showed well defined outlines (Figure ).…”