Further Studies on a Skin Calcifying System

Abstract

Summary.The changes in distribution of phosphorus involved in initiating deposition of hydroxy apatite in an experimental system based on mineralisation of rat skin have been studied.Measurement of several major phosphate fractions indicated considerable movement o£ pliosphorus, particularly between t\ie inorganic and organic phosphate pools of the skin. There was also an uptake of phosporus by a coUagen-rich fraction, which was related both temporally and sequentially to mineralisation. The phosphate taken up was released from the collagen fraction within a few hours if calcification did not occur. Attempts to demonstrate an inhibitory role for pyrophosphate in this calcifying system were unsuccessful.INTRODUCTION.