H. Miki et al., MORPHOGENESIS AND ORIGIN OF FIBROUS LONG-SPACING COLLAGEN-FIBERS IN COLLAGENASE-TREATED MOUSE SKIN TISSUES, Tissue & cell, 25(5), 1993, pp. 669-680
Morphogenesis and origin of fibrous long-spacing collagen (FLS) fibers
in newborn mouse skin tissues treated with collagenase were examined
using ultrastructural observation, morphometry, histochemical methods,
and immunoelectron microscopy. The enzyme caused both the partial des
truction of basal laminae and the formation of abundant FLS fibers in
the dermal matrix. The fibers were usually distributed in the vicinity
of basal laminae in the capillaries or basal layer cells. The fibers
were characterized by the cross-striated dark bands with about 91 nm p
eriodicity and longitudinally aligned filaments with a diameter of abo
ut 6-5 nm. The dark bands of FLS fibers were often continuous with the
basal laminae. Histochemical results showed that the dark bands conta
ined the similar mucopolysaccharides which were involved in the basal
laminae. Immunoelectron microscopic results showed that laminin was pr
esent in the dark bands as well as in the basal laminae, and that type
VI collagen was located in the filaments of FLS fibers. These results
suggest that the dark bands are formed by products similar to basal l
aminae and that the products were precipitated on type VI collagen-con
tained filaments with periodic intervals of about 91 nm. Morphometric
examination revealed that there was no differences in ultrastructure b
etween FLS fibers of a collagenase-treated mouse and those of a human
neural tumor.