Submicroscopic studies on basaloma in the dog

Abstract

Six basal cell tumors of dogs were studied electron microscopically. The ultrastructure of different types of basal cell tumor differs as to the number of tonofibrils, the finger-like cytoplasmic extensions, the width of the intercellular spaces, and the hyaloplasma. Hemidesmosomes were found in all tumors. One basal cell tumor contained single cells resembling sebaceous cells which indicates differentiation of basal cells into sebaceous glands. Furthermore, there are ultrastructural differences between the cells of the stratum germinativum and the basal cell tumor.