Constituents of connective tissue around the capillary of chick pecten oculi.

The constituents of the connective tissues around the capillary of the chick pecten oculi were examined electron microscopically by HCl-collagenase and HCl-elastase methods. The basal lamina like membrane below the endothelial cell of the pecten capillary was digested by collagenases I, II and IV and elastase, and may be a false basal lamina. The basal lamina of cells with pigment granules which surround the capillary was digested by collagenase IV and elastase, and contained type IV collagen. Fibrils between the basal lamina like membrane of the pecten capillary endothelium and the basal lamina of the cells with pigment granules were digested by collagenases I, II and IV, and elastase. Thus, these fibrils are composed of many kinds of collagen. Elastase may be responsible for the breakdown of most collagens as well as elastin.