Electron Microscope Observations on Elastic Fibers

Abstract

Purified elastic material from fish swim bladder was fragmented and observed under the electron microscope. Elastic fibers were digested with unfiltered trypsin and also with trypsin sterilized by filtering through a Seitz microfilter. When digestion is not done under absolutely sterile conditions, “fine threads” described by Gross(2) as a component of the elastic tissue are observed.