Evidence for collagen molecular orientation in basement membranes

The following basement membranes (BMs) from representative species of the main vertebrate classes were studied by the Picrosirius-polarization method: lens capsule, Reichert's membrane and glomerular BMs. A distinct birefringence was consistently observed in all BMs from all species studied by this method. The results reported provide a strong evidence for collagen macromolecular orientation in BMs. Heparitin sulphate was the only glycosaminoglycan detected in dogs lens capsules.