Abstract

Immunohistology has enabled the identification and localisation of individual connective tissue components in bovine hides. This approach allows examination of components which may not be readily studied by chemical analysis because they are present in only small amounts, for example type VII collagen. The changes in these components during the initial stages (liming, bating and pickling) of hide processing into leather have been followed, particularly in the grain enamel (surface). The data showed no clear changes to major structural components of the hide, for example types I, III and VI collagens. Type VII collagen remained in the grain layer, where it may still be anchoring residual components of the basement membrane, after liming, bating and pickling steps. The use of bating during processing may change the composition of the grain enamel by causing more effective removal of certain components such as laminin. However, use of a processing strategy known to cause grain damage, led to complete loss of reactivity to type IV and type VII collagens and laminin. These data support the role of components of the basal lamina in providing the final surface of leather.