FIG. 10.

Optical DIC image sequence (14 days) of HPCFs plated onto a collagen gel-coated cover slip with a low cell density. Two cell types were noted in the culture system at all time points: Rounded (black circles) or Elongated (black arrows). (A) The 0 week time point shows a mix of rounded and elongated HPCFs. (B) At 1 week, elongated HPCFs appear to dominate the population though both types are evident in the culture. (C) At 2 weeks, rounded cells are more prevalent in this region and appear to be eroding the collagen coating (arrowheads). The dynamic imaging suggests that the cells are degrading the collagen gel, but does not confirm this (see Supplementary Movie). (D) The last frame in the sequence shows a higher magnification image of the cell culture. Note that the collagen coating is eroded at multiple locations that coincide with rounded cell positions.