Figure 3.
Cell and collagen matrix contributions to the microtissues’ mechanical properties under static conditions. (A) Phase contrast images and 2D projected confocal images of collagen type I (green), F-actin (red) and nuclei (blue) of microtissues before and after short pulse pharmacological treatments. The bright dots in the red channel visible in the Triton and trypsin images are fluorescent beads used for displacement tracking. Comparisons of cross-sectional stress and cross-sectional area (B), and elastic modulus (C) of pharmacologically treated microtissues with those of untreated microtissues. *, p < 0.003; **, p = 0.26; ***, p = 0.05; #, p > 0.35; # #, p = 0.17 as compared to untreated condition by unpaired t-test. Scale bar = 100 µm. Sample sizes: untreated, n = 30; blebbistatin, n = 19; Triton, n = 20; trypsin, n = 14; LatB, n = 8. All data are presented as Mean ± S.D.