FIG. 3.

Confocal laser scanning microscopy. Effects of cyclic stretching on the distribution of β1 integrins within ligament fibroblasts (Bar: 20 μm). (A) In the control group, the β1 integrins (green) are randomly distributed within the plasma membrane attached to the silicon substrate and have a dot-like appearance. (B) In the stretched group, the β1 integrins are strongly distributed on the polar sides of the stretched cells and have a linear shape. The double-headed arrow indicates the direction of applied stretching.