FIG. 2.

Structural characteristics of ECT. (A) Scaffold-free ECTs were generated by mixing sorted cardiomyocytes and non-cardiomyocytes at different ratios (25%, 50%, 70%, or 90% cardiomyocytes to non-cardiomyocytes). Expression of the extracellular matrix proteins collagen I, collagen III, fibronectin, and laminin α2, α4, and α5 in the ECTs was assessed by (B) immunohistochemistry and (C) real-time PCR. Scale bar: 20 μm. *p < 0.05; **p < 0.01. ECT, engineered cardiac tissues; PCR, polymerase chain reaction. Color images available online at www.liebertpub.com/tea