Some Observations on the Histology of Keratin Fibres

Sections of several different wool and hair fibres have been given chemical treatments alleged to isolate the “subcuticle membrane”. The residues consist of parts of the cuticle, cortex, and medulla. The cortex residue is made up of cortical cell nuclei, fibrils, and thin membranes located at the boundaries of the cortical cells. These membranes are more resistant to treatment with sodium hydroxide solution and sodium sulphide solution than the major part of the cells, but are dissolved by proteolytic enzymes. The membranes are probably the material hitherto termed “intercellular cement”.