2-DIMENSIONAL FOURIER-ANALYSIS OF ELECTRON-MICROGRAPHS OF HUMAN SKIN FOR QUANTIFICATION OF THE COLLAGEN FIBER ORGANIZATION IN THE DERMIS

Two-dimensional (2-D) Fourier analysis was used to quantify the struct ural organization of collagen fibers in the dermis of the human skin, The 2-D Fourier spectra of electron micrographs of collagen fibers con tained large amplitude Fourier components (1 fundamental and 3 harmoni c peaks), representing the predominant structural parameter of the fib ers, the center-to-center spacing of collagen fibrils. The average cen ter-to-center spacing of the collagen fibrils was found from the posit ion of the peaks, For a normal fiber of reticular dermis, this spacing was 116 nm, The fibril diameter appeared to modulate the peak heights .