Figure 1.

Fibrillar collagen matrix of the mouse bladder wall. A: ultrastructure of the bladder fibrillar collagen matrix was revealed by alkaline maceration and field emission scanning electron microscopy. The dashed boxed regions are magnified in B and E. B: collagen matrix within the region of the lamina propria, which can be subdivided into the suburothelial (SU) region and outer lamina propria (OLP). The dashed boxed region is magnified in C. C: suburothelial collagen matrix. The urothelium, which is extracted during the alkaline maceration, would be found just above the region false colored in orange. D: ultrastructure of the collagen fibrils. E: intermuscular portion of the bladder wall. The dashed boxed region is magnified in the inset. Smooth muscle cells (extracted) would sit within the lacunae created by the endomysial connective tissue (ECT). Fascicles of smooth muscle cells are surrounded by perimysial connective tissue (PCT). Images are representative of bladders from two mice. LP, lamina propria; ME, muscularis externa; Ru, rugae; Se, serosa.