Distribution of type III collagen in bovine skin of various ages.

The changes in the distribution of type III collagen in bovine skin samples of increasing age have been examined. Analysis of layers from bovine skin of various ages has shown that type III collagen was present in all samples and that the proportion of type III collagen present was greatest in the youngest tissues and in the papillary dermis. The proportion of type III collagen in the papillary dermis decreased until 18 months and then remained constant; the proportion in the reticular dermis continued to decline up to at least 112 months.