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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2019 Mar 15.
Published in final edited form as: Dev Biol. 2018 Jan 17;435(2):122–129. doi: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2017.12.022

Fig. 2. Decellularization increases matrix visibility and retains independent networks.

Fig. 2.

(A) E14.5 control and decellularized forelimbs were stained for fibronectin (FN; red) and fibrillin-2 (FBN2; white) and digit tips were imaged using confocal microscopy (blue = DAPI). Bar = 100µm. (B) Higher magnification view of A reveals FN and FBN2 maintain independent, interpenetrating networks after removal of cells with SDS. Arrowheads show FN+ blood vessels. Bar = 50µm. (C, D) The native distribution of different ECM was maintained in developing cartilage and bone in decellularized E14.5 forelimbs. Tenascin-C (TNC, red) expression was restricted to the periphery of the developing cartilage (left). FBN2 (red) was localized to fibrils within the cartilage (middle). YZ section shows extended FBN2-expressing microfibril (arrowhead). Type VI collagen (col VI, red) was found throughout the developing cartilage (right). Green = WGA. Bars = 50 μm. Dimensions of stacks in C: 237 × 237 × 78 μm (x × y × z). (D) TNC (red, left) was restricted to the perichondrium/periosteum in the developing long bone, whereas perlecan (red, right) was found throughout the tissue. Green = WGA. Bars = 100 μm, axes oriented as in C. Dimensions of stacks in D: 242 × 338 × 69 μm.