FIG. 4.

Mechanical properties of 3D collagen hydrogels containing C3H10T1/2 cells. In static constructs, stiffness (A) and maximum load (B) increased in all constructs from 7 to 14 days, regardless of Scx overexpression (n = 9). In cyclically strained constructs, the stiffness and maximum load of Scx constructs increased from 7 to 14 days, whereas mechanical properties of LacZ constructs were unchanged. At 14 days, Scx constructs had a higher maximum load and were stiffer than LacZ controls (n = 9). ^#Significant effect (p < 0.05) of time, *gene, or ^§strain.