Immunohistologic analysis of fetal and dermatosparactic calf and sheep skin with antisera to procollagen and collagen type I.

Immunofluorescent analysis of bovine and sheep skin using antibodies to the biosynthetic precursor pn-collagen type I, demonstrated that the localization of pn-collagen is restricted to the stratum papillare in adult skin. In contrast, antibodies against pn-collagen type I stained the whole dermis in skin obtained from dermatosparactic cattle and sheep. Electron microscopy of dermatosparactic sheep skin stained with ferritin-labeled anti-pn-collagen type I antibodies further demonstrated that pn-collagen molecules are the structural components of the unusual, twisted collagen fïbers observed in dermatosparactic skin.