Vitreous humor of chicken contains two fibrillar systems: an analysis of their structure

An analysis of the structure of chicken vitreous humor after brief homogenization of the tissue was performed. Electron micrographs prepared after rotary shadowing with platinum showed the presence of two distinct fibrils. The collagen fibril was coated by glycosaminoglycan which could be removed by chondroitinase ABC digestion. In addition, individual molecules of tenascin were observed wrapped around some of the collagen fibrils. A second beaded fibril was present and several fine filaments were observed to extend from each bead. The beaded fibril is formed by the overlap of these filaments, and beaded fibrils were observed in either a "closed" or an "open" form dependent on whether all of the filaments are brought together to form the overlap. A schematic diagram is presented for the structure of the beaded fibril. The potential relationship of the beaded fibril to the zonular fibrils and the elastin microfibrils is briefly discussed.