RESUMO
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. CONCLUSION: The data obtained in this study on the three-dimensional structure of pigskin collagen fibril are of significance to researches in tissue engineering materials.