Quantitative and morphological study of intraepidermal nerve fibre in healthy individuals

The study was aimed to observe the morphology of intraepidermal nerve fibre (IENF) and to explore the relationships between intraepidermal nerve fibre density (IENFD) and anatomic sites, age, genders and races. Intraepidermal nerve fibre was observed using immunohistochemistry. The relationships between IENFD and anatomic sites, ages, genders and races were analysed by quantitative analysis of IENFD. Five patterns of the IENFs were observed according to the morphological classification. A significant difference was observed in IENFD between different anatomic sites (P < 0.05). A linear negative correlation was observed between IENFD and age (r = - 0.2931, P < 0.01). No significant difference was found between IENFD and genders. Intraepidermal nerve fibre density at distal leg of Chinese (395.54 ± 166.92) was higher than that of Finnish (114.62 ± 32.32, P < 0.01). Skin biopsy may be an effective tool in quantitation of IENFD in healthy individuals. Intraepidermal nerve fibre density is independent of genders, and closely associated with anatomic sites, races and ages.