Elastotic material and elastic fibers in aged skin: an ultrastructural study with conventional and tannic acid stain

Elastotic material and aged elastic fibers were studied with an electron microscopy, using both conventional and tannic acid stain. (1) A relatively large part of the fibrous form, and a lesser part of the amorphous form stained positive with the tannic acid stain. (2) Aged elastic fibers showed some age-related findings with both conventional and tannic acid staining. It is suggested that the elastotic material originates from the elastic fibers and progresses from the fibrous to the amorphous form.