title: [Three-dimensional structure of collagen fibril of pigskin].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To probe deply into the three-dimensional structure of pigskin collagen fibril and provide the basic data for using the pigskin tissue as tissue engineering material.
  
  
  METHODS
  Scanning Probe Microscope (SPM) and Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM) were employed to study the three-dimensional structure of collagen fibril in pigskin tissue.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Microscopy revealed that pigskin collagen fibril had periodic transverse groove (i.e. D-periodicity) which was about 67 nm. The diameter of fibril ranged from 57 to 135 nm, showing much difference among the papillary layer, reticular layer and infra-reticular layer. The length of fibril varied from 5 to 13 microns. Both ends of fibril were rotund and slightly bulgy. The fibrils assembled and the D-periodicities were homologous in flank. In axial direction fibrils were found staggered end by end.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The data obtained in this study on the three-dimensional structure of pigskin collagen fibril are of significance to researches in tissue engineering materials.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Leather Chemistry and Engineering of Ministry of Education, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China.
authors.forename: Zhiqiang
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Yingme
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Min
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Longli
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Liao
authors.forename: Tao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Xiang
authors.forename: Yang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: Chunpeng
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Tian
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yunfei
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D024021:Fibril-Associated Collagens / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D012867:Skin / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D013552:Swine; D023822:Tissue Engineering
chemical_list: D024021:Fibril-Associated Collagens