Figure 5. Collagen fiber organization and remodeling gene expression is altered in the myocardium of Col14a1−/− mice.
(A) Western blot (left) and immunofluorescence (right) to show decreased Col1a1 expression in the ventricular myocardium of 3 month old Col14a1−/−, Col14a1+/− and wild type mice. (B) qPCR analysis to show fold changes in collagen processing enzymes in the ventricular myocardium of post natal Col14a1−/− compared to wild type controls. (C) TLDA analysis to show fold changes in expression of matrix remodeling genes in the ventricular myocardium of Col14a1−/− mice at E11.5, PN and 3 months of age. (D–F) Electron microscopy to examine collagen fiber organization in the ventricular myocardium of wild type (D) and Col14a1−/− mice (E–F) at PND1. Note lack of collagen fiber bundles in Col14a1−/− mice (E–F), compared to wild types (arrow, D).