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I.—MORPHOLOGICAL VARIANTS IN MAMMALIAN TISSUE FIBRES
Author(s) -
Cruise A. J.
Publication year - 1957
Publication title -
journal of the royal microscopical society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.569
H-Index - 111
eISSN - 1365-2818
pISSN - 0368-3974
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2818.1957.tb02013.x
Subject(s) - birefringence , swelling , collagen fibres , biophysics , deformation (meteorology) , morphology (biology) , chemistry , materials science , anatomy , biology , composite material , optics , genetics , physics
SYNOPSIS The behaviour of microscopic collagen fibres under pressures applied radially to the bundles has shown that distinct morphological differences exist between them. Four types have been observed and defined by their structural differences and their related optical, chemical, and mechanical properties. Resistance to acid swelling, birefringence, and the elastic and plastic deformation under pressure all vary with the structure, and it is suggested that in these variant types the molecular chains may be in a state of “closer packing.” The variant types have been observed in a wide range of tissues from many species but there are marked variations between the proportions present in specimens from the same species. There is some evidence that the proportion of variant types is associated with the age of the specimen. In addition two other fibrous types have been observed, which may be of a keratinous nature but which are always closely associated with normal collagen bundles. These possess jointed or segmented structures which under extreme pressures exhibit complex fibrillar structures which appear to run from one joint to another. The presence of these in otherwise normal tissue suggests that their origin may involve several orders of control over the fibrogenesis to produce the alternating parallel and swollen sections.