Simultaneous demonstration of infecting fungi and DNA‐synthesizing epithelial cells in the skin

Abstract
An excellent staining method to demonstrate in vivo dermatophytes and DNA-synthesizing cells in the skin is described. Deparaffinized sections of guinea pig skin, infected with dermatophytes and given bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) by intraperitoneal injection, were used. Periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) stain in combination with an immunohistochemical stain using anti-BrdU monoclonal antibody allowed simultaneous visualization of fungi and DNA-synthesizing epithelial cells in the skin. Many epithelial cells near the infecting fungi in follicles and interfollicular skin were labelled with BrdU. Only a few BrdU-positive cells were observed in the skin of uninfected animals.