Smith L T, Holbrook K A, Byers P H
J Invest Dermatol. 1982 Jul;79 Suppl 1:93s-104s. doi: 10.1111/1523-1747.ep12545877.
To describe a normal adult dermis is a seemingly simple task considering the diverse microscopic methods available for examination of the tissue, staining procedures to delineate the fibrous and cellular components, and immunolabeling techniques to identify precisely the various fibrous elements. Yet it is not simple because the range of normal in any of the dermal components has never been surveyed. There are well recognized age-related changes in the dermis; the tissue can be modified by environmental insults (e.g., actinic damage) and alterations can occur in tissue of individuals with inherited disorders of connective tissue metabolism, other metabolic diseases (e.g., diabetes) and in those receiving topically applied or systemic medication. From our own experience there is also marked individual variability (at any age) in the connective tissue architecture and its fibrous components. Thus, we are describing the structure of a normal dermis without demonstrating the range of normal in any one of its elements. Reference will occasionally be made to abnormal conditions of the matrix since through these deviations it is possible to understand more about the normal. Structural and biochemical properties of the dermal connective tissue in human embryos and fetuses have been described in a number of studies, but in only a few instances was the goal of the research focused on this problem; instead, fetal tissue was used for comparative purposes in aging studies, or a certain characteristic of the fetal dermis was pointed out along with the description of another structure (e.g., hair follicle). In the few instances where a sequential study was carried out on one matrix component during development, an animal (pig, chick) was selected for the work.
鉴于有多种微观方法可用于检查组织、有染色程序来描绘纤维和细胞成分以及免疫标记技术来精确识别各种纤维成分，描述正常成人真皮似乎是一项简单的任务。然而，这并非易事，因为从未对任何真皮成分的正常范围进行过全面研究。真皮存在公认的与年龄相关的变化；组织会受到环境损伤（如光化损伤）的影响，患有遗传性结缔组织代谢紊乱、其他代谢疾病（如糖尿病）的个体以及接受局部或全身用药的个体的组织也会发生改变。根据我们自己的经验，结缔组织结构及其纤维成分在（任何年龄）也存在明显的个体差异。因此，我们在描述正常真皮的结构时，并未展示其任何一个成分的正常范围。偶尔会提及基质的异常情况，因为通过这些偏差能够更多地了解正常情况。许多研究已经描述了人类胚胎和胎儿真皮结缔组织的结构和生化特性，但只有少数研究将重点放在这个问题上；相反，胎儿组织被用于衰老研究的比较目的，或者在描述另一种结构（如毛囊）时指出胎儿真皮的某些特征。在少数对发育过程中一种基质成分进行连续研究的情况下，研究选择了动物（猪、鸡）。
