Demonstration by immunofluorescence that the same cells from chick embryo aortas synthesize elastin and collagen types I and III.

Cells were isolated from the aortas of 17-day old chick embryos and they were stained with fluorescent antibodies specific for Type I collagen, Type I procollagen, Type III collagen, elastin and prolyl hydroxylase. The results indicated that the same cells simultaneously synthesize Type I procollagen, Type III procollagen and elastin. The synthesis of procollagens, and the presence of prolyl hydroxylase, in the same cells which synthesize elastin may well explain why elastin contains hydroxy-proline.