DEMONSTRATION OF CUTANEOUS ELASTIC FIBER ARRANGEMENT IN UNDAMAGED THICK SECTIONS BY CONFOCAL LASER-SCANNING MICROSCOPY

The study introduces a non-invasive method that demonstrates the elast ic fibre network of the mammalian dermis in thick frozen sections, bas ed on confocal laser scanning microscopy. This technique avoids dehydr ation and shrinkage, so that the spatial relationships of elastic fibr es are represented more true to life. This is best achieved by image p rocessing, in particular by 3-D reconstruction of the basic structure of the elastic system.