The changes in the various structural components of the wool follicle during the "sweating" process were followed by histological staining of sections prepared from the skin at appropriate intervals. Tissue breakdown starts in the lower part of the outer root sheath, progresses up the sheath, and ultimately involves the epidermis. The epidermis usually separates from the underlying dermis at a certain stage in the depilation process before the epidermal cells start to disintegrate. The gradual breakdown of the cells of the wool root bulb is an integral part of the wool� loosening process. The inner root sheath, the elastic tissue, and the fat cells are all broken down during depilation, but this is incidental to, and not the cause of, the loosening of the wool fibre. Sulphated mucopolysaccharides are gradually removed from the skin during depilation.
SummaryStructural changes in the wool follicle during depilation with acetic acid, crystalline trypsin, and a commercial enzyme preparation, Pancrozyme C1A, are described. A number of the morphological changes produced by acetic acid and Pancrozyme C1A are similar. Both cause early separation of the epidermal and outer root sheath (ORS) structures from the underlying tissues, and the resistance to fibre withdrawal at this stage is due largely to the physical obstruction of the ORS material. In both cases the separated ORS assumes a tightly packed cylindrical form around the fibre and is gradually digested away until there is no longer any resistance to fibre removal. In both cases separation of the fibre ultimately occurs in the lower part of the prekeratinous zone just above the bulb.Histological evidence is provided which accounts for the unsatisfactory nature of crystalline trypsin as a depilating agent.A comparative analysis of the main structural changes in the follicle with the depilating systems at present available is given, and the requirements for an ideal depilating system are stated.
SummaryStructural changes in the wool follicle during depilation with sodium sulphide and with ammonia are described. Sodium sulphide exerts its principal action on the prekeratinous zone of the wool fibre, but also dissolves the lower part of the outer root sheath (ORS). The fibre breaks off in the prekeratinous zone and is easily removed with virtually no disturbance of the upper ORS or the epidermis, leaving a degraded bulb still in position. Ammonia solution (1M) causes a severe disruption of the cell structure of the ORS and some disorganization of the prekeratinous zone, but does not cause sufficient protein dissolution to permit depilation to go to completion.
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