FIG. 2.

Molecular assessment of collagen denaturation using CF-CHP staining. (A) Representative images of CF-CHP (green indicative of denatured collagen)-stained cryosections from B6-naive patellar tendon for non-decellularized, decellularized, and heat-denatured conditions. Dashed white lines and saturated images (bottom panel) indicate the tissue outline/representative tissue section, respectively. Scale bar, 200 μm. N = 6 samples per group. (B) Quantification of CF-CHP integrated density illustrated minimal collagen denaturation in non-decellularized and decellularized tendons. Data are presented as mean ± standard deviation. ****p < 0.0001. CF-CHP, carboxyfluorescein-labeled collagen hybridizing peptide. Color images are available online.