Fig. 7.

Cardiac fibroblast morphology during collagen gel contraction. Representative confocal Z-series collected with a 40 × objective of fibroblasts in contracting collagen gels illustrating that cardiac fibroblast morphology changes with time and position in the gel. Columns (left-right) are t₀,4 h, 8 h, 12 h, and 24 h. Rows are (top) center detached, (middle) edge detached, and (bottom) edge attached. Cells along detached edges show alignment, increased density, and elongated phenotype of the cells. Cells in the center of the gels show a more random orientation. Scale bar = 100 μm