Molecular species of collagen in the intramuscular connective tissue of fish

1. The major collagen of intramuscular connective tissue of carp, lizardfish, Japanese eel, sturgeon and spotted shark was found to be Type I collagen. 2. The major collagen of lamprey intramuscular connective tissue was found to be different from the Type I collagen isolated from lamprey skin and to be similar to the invertebrate muscle collagen. 3. Type III-like collagen was not present in a detectable amount in the intramuscular connective tissue of the fish examined. 4. Type V collagen was widely distributed in the intramuscular connective tissue of the fish examined and conserved its amino acid composition during evolution from cyclostome to mamals more closely than Type I collagen.