Objective　To study the development of CD1a

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DC in human fetal platine tonsil.　Methods　Twenty-nine cases of human fetal palatine tonsil were collected at gestational weeks 9-28. CD1a

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DC were identified with EnVision double staining.　Results　A small number of CD1a

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DC were detected at gestational week 12

which were distributed in basal lamina and stratum intermedium of crypt epithelium in human fetal

platine tonsil. The cell bodies were fusiform or irregular in shape with several tree branch-like eruptions derived from them. The cell nuclei were round or oval in shape. The number of CD1a

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DC was increased at gestational week 14 with CD1a

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DC observed in diffused lymphoid tissue around the crypt. CD1a

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DC were distributed in surface epithelium at gestational week 16. Positive CD1a

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DC were gradually observed in lamina superficialis of endepidermis due to the increased number of CD1a

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DC from gestational weeks 17- 24. Several CD1a

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DC began to emerge in lymphoid nodules at gestational week 28. The number of CD1a

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DC was increased from 2.60±1.14 at gestational weeks 9-12 to 57.20±6.06 at gestational weeks 25-28 with the growth of fetal age (P0.05).　Conclusion　CD1a

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DC are immigrated into the crypt epithelium of human fetal palatine tonsil at gestational week 12

and can be gradually observed in diffused lymphoid tissue

surface epithelium and lymphoid nodules. The number of CD1a

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DC increases gradually with the growth of fetal age. CD1a

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DC are mainly distributed in crypt epithelium

less in diffused lymphoid tissue and surface epithelium

and least in lymphoid nodules.