[Studies of human skin by cryofractographic and electron-microscopic methods]

Ultrathin slices from the human abdominal skin and platinum-carbonic replicas, obtained by means of the freeze-fracture method have been studied electron microscopically. Transmembranous proteins are revealed on the membrane surface as membrane-bound particles with the diameter 5-7 nm. They mainly concentrate on the membrane protoplasmic surface. Certain difference is noted in distribution of tonofibrils in cytoplasm of the epidermal cells, when various methods for preparation of specimens to be investigated are used. Predominance of the freeze-fracture method comparing to the routine method of electron microscopy is discussed, since the specimens do not subjected to fixation, dehydration and resin saturation.