Histologic identification of cellular differences that may contribute to the reduced immunogenicity of transplanted neonatal versus adult skin tissue.

Neonatal epidermal sections obtained within 24 h after birth from C3H/He mice along with adult epidermis from the same strain were evaluated for the presence of epidermal dendritic cells (Langerhans cells) by three staining methods: immunofluorescence, gold sodium thiomalate and adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase) activity. The results obtained indicate that Langerhans cells are present in both groups of tissue, but lack Ia antigen expression in the neonate. This lack of Ia antigen expression may contribute to the superiority of neonatal donor skin for transplantation over that from adult donors in the murine allograft model.