[Electron microscopic investigations of vitreous collagen after treating the vitreous with liquefying substances (author's transl)].

By electron microscopic studies collagenase, hyaluronidase, HCl, ascorbic acid, and iron ions have been found to attack the collagen fibers of bovine vitreous. Because of the possible role of ascorbic acid in collagen synthesis and the ability of ascorbic acid to degrade hyaluronic acid and collagen we suggest that the ascorbic acid of the vitreous essentially participates in construction and metabolism of the vitreous body.