Collagen type I, collagen type III, and versican in vocal fold lamina propria.

OBJECTIVE To analyze the distributions of collagen type I, collagen type III, and versican in the lamina propria of the human vocal fold. DESIGN Cross-sectional analysis of cadaveric vocal folds of adult human larynges. SETTING Academic tertiary referral center. SUBJECTS Larynges harvested at autopsy from 10 adult men and 10 adult women. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Immunohistochemical reactions were performed using antihuman monoclonal antibodies to analyze the expression of collagen type I, collagen type III, and versican. RESULTS Collagen type I density was lower in the intermediate layer compared with the superficial and deep layers of vocal folds. Collagen type III density was lower in the intermediate layer compared with the deep layer. Versican density was lower in the superficial layer compared with the intermediate and deep layers. Versican density was lower in the lamina propria of women compared with men; this difference was noted in the superficial layer only. There was a positive correlation between collagen type III and versican densities within the lamina propria. CONCLUSION Collagen type I, collagen type III, and versican are distributed differently within the lamina propria layers of the adult vocal folds.