Studies of elastic tissue formation in the developing bovine ligamentum nuchae

Abstract

The foetal ligamentum nuchae showed two distinct stages of development, each characterised by its cell population and fibre products. Fibroblasts of the early phase have extensive ergastoplasm apparently associated with collagen production; those of the late phase have an "attenuated" cytoplasm and coincide with an increase of elastic tissue content. The elastic fibre comprised a core of fine elastin fibrils (100--130 nm diameter) and a surrounding mantle of microfibrillar protein. As development proceeded, the elastin fibrils appeared to coalesce with each other and also with elastin fibrils from adjacent fibres to form composite mature elastic fibre--a process which was accompanied by a loss of microfibrils. A characteristic of elastic fibres from adult ligament, not apparent in the foetal tissue, was that of bifurcation.

Structural and functional failure of fibrillin‑1 in human diseases (Review)

“…Highlighting their important structural role, FBN microfibrils are essential for the process of elastogenesis, acting as a scaffold for the soluble precursor of elastin (tropoelastin) (32). Tropoelastin molecules are secreted and deposited extracellularly onto a preformed, organized FBN microfibril network, which gives rise to mature, elastic fibres that are subsequently processed by the lysyl oxidase enzyme for the formation of desmosine cross-links.…”

The molecular structure and physical properties of elastin fibers as revealed by Raman microspectroscopy

“…A primary aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of mechanical strain on the elastin fiber at the molecular level. It was impossible to apply strain to individual nuchal ligament fibers, which are typically 110-130 nm in diameter 42 and in applying strain to fiber bundles it is possible that a number of fibers within the measuring field experiences much lower strains, certainly some fibers were observed not to be strained at all. Some effects may therefore have been underestimated, but there were no changes in the positions, larger than the 2 cm 21 shift considered to be significant, or in the relative intensities of any peaks.…”

THE HAIRLESS MOUSE and PHOTOAGING

“…Conversion, by chronic UV-B irradiation, of fibroblasts from a morphologically quiescent state to one of high metabolic activity was reported by Kligman et al (1982). The latter appeared in the two forms described in the literature as collagen and elastin producing fibroblasts (Kewley et al, 1978). An increased diversity of collagen fiber diameters along with evidence for fiber dissolution have also been reported by Kligman et al (1982).…”