PMID: 11903797Mar 21, 2002Paper

Microscopical investigations on the epicuticle of mammalian keratin fibres

Journal of Microscopy
J A Swift, J R Smith

Abstract

The existence of a thin chemically resistant layer, the epicuticle, close to the surfaces of all undamaged mammalian keratin fibres has been known since 1916. The identification of such a specific structure within the fibre cuticle has remained elusive. Now, through transmission electron microscope investigations of stained transverse sections of hairs from various animal species, the epicuticle has been tentatively identified as a sharply defined and continuous layer approximately 13 nm thick covering the entire outwardly facing intracellular surface of every cuticle cell. The staining behaviour of the epicuticle leads one to suppose that it is rich in cystine and that thioester-bound lipids might be present within its bulk. With the atomic force microscope it was established that the undamaged outer surface of all mammalian keratin fibres, even including those from the monotremes, were longitudinally striated. The lateral spacing of the striations was always in the range 0.29-0.39 microm. Striations only occurred on the freely exposed outer surfaces of the original undamaged fibres; evidently arising by some, as yet undefined, interaction in the follicle with the cuticle of the inner root sheath. By stripping off fatty acids ...Continue Reading

Citations

Dec 5, 2003·Journal of Colloid and Interface Science·Vincent DupresPatrick Guenoun
Oct 22, 2014·PeerJ·Fei-Chi YangMaikel C Rheinstädter
Sep 3, 2003·Journal of Microscopy·G PolettiE Barborini
Oct 12, 2007·Experimental Dermatology·Scott D BringansWarren G Bryson
Feb 24, 2005·Micron : the International Research and Review Journal for Microscopy·James R Smith, J Alan Swift
May 21, 2008·International Journal of Cosmetic Science·C TomesD Jones
Mar 4, 2020·Journal of Applied Toxicology : JAT·Christopher DaviesJoanne Morrissey
Sep 4, 2019·American Journal of Human Biology : the Official Journal of the Human Biology Council·Sandra L KochNina G Jablonski
Jun 27, 2019·Toxicological Sciences : an Official Journal of the Society of Toxicology·Hazem MatarRobert P Chilcott
Jan 13, 2012·Journal of Forensic Sciences·Jimmie C OxleyYehuda Zeiri
May 9, 2019·The Journal of Physical Chemistry. B·Steven BreakspearCrisan Popescu

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