Figure 1.

Matrix deformation and mechanical stress within 3D epithelial tissues. (A) Substratum deformation induced by a single epithelial cell plated on top of collagen gel. (B) Matrix deformation induced by a single epithelial cell fully embedded within collagen gel. (C) Diagram showing components of microfabricated tissues (multicellular epithelial duct is surrounded by type I collagen embedded with fluorescent beads). (D) Signal/noise ratio in one sample and average signal/noise ratio of 30 samples. (E) Average 3D matrix deformation induced by 34 epithelial tissues. (F) Epithelial surface reconstruction from a confocal stack of tissue stained for cell membranes and finite element mesh generation. (G) Average 3D traction forces over an epithelial surface of n = 34 tissues. (H) Validation of constitutive model and assumption of homogeneity for collagen gel. Scale bars: 50 μm.