Investigations on the Reaction of Metals with Collagen <i>in vivo</i>

Abstract

Mercury, copper and bismuth compounds react in vivo with insoluble collagen in a way similar to gold thiosulphate. The introduction of artificial cross‐links increases the overall stability of the collagen and lowers its solubility. As a result the fibrils acquire a more finely detailed cross‐striation pattern as seen under the electron microscope.