Figure 3. Typical results of the mechanical tests on the Triton-treated dermis of S. chloronotus.

(A) A control in which the stiffness measurement was performed in ASW for more than 1 hour without application of the softener to show the initial phase of rapidly increasing stiffness and the following steady state phase. (B) The effect of the softener. The application of the softener (upward arrow) caused a rapid decrease in stiffness. (C) Recovery experiments after the application of the softener. Stiffness slightly recovered by washing out the softener with ASW (downward arrow). (D) The effect of the heated softener. The application of the heated softener (upward arrow) caused a decrease in stiffness.