The conformation of fibrinogen and fibrin: an electron microscopy study.

A mica adsorption technique was used to prepare fibrinogen and early fibrin polymers for examination in the transmission electron microscope. Globular particles 10 +/- 3 nm in diameter were observed and a model for the process of aggregation of these globules into fibrous units is proposed. A comparison is made between the results obtained by the mica adsorption technique and those obtained by conventional preparation techniques involving fixation and staining.