Cortical Bilateral Structure and Wool Crimp

The percentage paracortex by area in well-grown, unweathered, high- and low-crimp wools has been estimated on cross sections dyed with methylene blue. The cystine/cysteine content of these wools was also determined. The high-crimp wools were found to have a higher percentage paracortex and sulfur content than the low-crimp wools. This is probably related to the speed of mitotic activity of the germinal layer of the bulb. If proliferation activity is high (faster growth) less sulfur is incorporated into the fiber. In this way cross-linking is reduced, resulting in less structural strain, which expresses itself in fewer crimps.