Histochemistry and Fine Structure of Oral Lesions of Mucous Membrane Pemphigoid

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Abstract
Histochemical and fine structural studies of oral vesicular lesions of mucous membrane pemphigoid were performed. Light microscopy revealed that the lesion consisted of a clean separation of epithelium from connective tissue, with epithelial cells remaining intact and basement membrane material adhering to both epithelium and connective tissue. Electron microscopy revealed changes in the tissue adjacent to the developing vesicle, including increased cellularity in the connective tissue, increased amount of basal lamina material, evidence of increased activity of basal cells, projections of basal cells through the basal lamina, and decreased numbers of anchoring fibrils. Sections through vesicles revealed relatively intact basal cells with separation of basal lamina; ie, portions of basal lamina were adherent to both epithelium and connective tissue. The primary site of pathogenesis of oral lesions of mucous membrane pemphigoid is the basement membrane.