Figure 4.
Extracellular matrix (ECM) pattern of bovine and porcine pericardia before and after TRICOL decellularization. (A) Second harmonic generation and autofluorescence. In the decellularized serosa (e and f for bovine; m and n for porcine), collagen and elastin maintained the tight organization of the native condition (a and b for bovine; i and j for porcine). Bovine acellular fibrosa (g and h) showed an unaltered collagen loosen distribution with respect to native tissue (c and d). A more crimped and wavy appearance was shown in the decellularized porcine counterpart (k and l for native and o and p for decellularized). Magnification bars: 100 µm. (B) Collagen coherency (C). C of collagen bundles decreased significantly for decellularized serosa of both species and decellularized porcine fibrosa with respect to native tissues. (C) Elastin coherency (C). C of elastin fibers was significantly higher in native porcine serosa samples than in decellularized ones. (D) Straightness parameter (Ps) of collagen bundles. No significant modifications were revealed after decellularization for the Ps of collagen, apart from bovine fibrosa. For B, C and D, data are presented as mean ± standard deviation (SD). *p < 0.05; ***p < 0.001. NBP= Native Bovine Pericardium, DBP= Decellularized Bovine Pericardium, NPP= Native Porcine Pericardium, DPP= Decellularized Porcine Pericardium, C= coherency, and Ps= straightness parameter.