[Three-dimensional structure of collagen fibril of pigskin].
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.
Li
Zhiqiang
Z
Key Laboratory of Leather Chemistry and Engineering of Ministry of Education, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China.
Wang
Yingme
Y
Chen
Min
M
Liao
Longli
L
Xiang
Tao
T
Guo
Yang
Y
Zhao
Chunpeng
C
Yunfei
Tian
T
D000818:Animals; D024021:Fibril-Associated Collagens / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D012867:Skin / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D013552:Swine; D023822:Tissue Engineering
D024021:Fibril-Associated Collagens