Abstract
Merino wool fibers have been reduced with thioglycolic acid in nearly saturated aqueous solutions of sodium chloride, in a hope that one could restrict reduction reaction to the peripheral region of fibers so that the cuticular cells are removed by a subsequent dissolution process without chemical modification of the cortical cells. Though no successful result concerning our original aim was achieved, some interesting microscopic observations were made for the cross-sections of sample fibers, which were reduced and then S-carboxymethylated. After staining of the fibers with a basic dye, their cross-sections exhibited a distinctive boundary line at the interface between the ortho- and paracortex. The condition and cause for appearance of such lines are investigated experimentally and discussed.
