[Ultrastructure of collagen fibers and basic substance of the human dermis]

Histological and histochemical methods and fluorescent and rastral electron microscopy were used for complex investigation of intercellular connective tissue components of the human skin derm (collagenous and elastin fibres, basic substance). The structure of collagenous fibres in different levels of their organization was studied. The structure of periods and differently directed combination of fibrils in the fibre were revealed by different methods. Five types of ruthenies--positive structures in the basic substance and fibres--were found. A supposition is made and substantiated that two interconnected and diverse mechanisms take part in sustaining the structure--function integrity of the collagenous fibre. One of them prevents from rapprochement of fibrils (different direction of fibres, amorphous substance) and the other connect them (adhesive properties of the amorphous substance).