Figure 9.

Abnormal anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) structure in the Col5a1^Δten/Δten mouse. A and B: Transmission electron microscopy shows a significant increase in fibril diameter and aberrant fibril structure in the Col5a1^Δten/Δten ACL. The alterations in the collagen V–null ACL were more severe. C: Histograms show the broader distribution of fibril diameters in the ACL of Col5a1^Δten/Δten mice compared with that in the control mice. D: The mean fibril diameter is increased significantly in the ACL of Col5a1^Δten/Δten mice ACL. E: The fibril density was decreased significantly in Col5a1^Δten/Δten mice. Fibril diameter and density were measured in three different mice of each group, with three to seven images from each mouse; the data are presented as means ± SD, and Student's t-test was used (C–E). All mice were postnatal day 30 males. ^∗∗∗P < 0.001. Ctrl, control; Q, quartile.