The geometrical structure of fibrous extracellular matrix (ECM) impacts on its biological function. In this report, we demonstrate a new algorithm designed to extract quantitative structural information about individual collagen fibres (orientation, length and diameter) from 3D backscattered-light confocal images of collagen gels. The computed quantitative data allowed us to create surface-rend...

The structure of an ideal scaffold for tendon regeneration must be designed to provide a mechanical, structural and chemotactic microenvironment for native cellular activity to synthesize functional (i.e. load bearing) tissue. Collagen fibre scaffolds for this application have shown some promise to date, although the microstructural control required to mimic the native tendon environment has ye...

A study has been made of the ultrastructural organization of the collagen fibrils and elastic fibres in tendons and ligaments from horses of ages ranging from 2 months premature to 19 years. Diameter distributions of the collagen fibrils in the common digital extensor tendon, the super­ ficial flexor tendon and the suspensory ligament are unimodal in the foetal tissue and a t birth, and a t the...

The aim of this study was to fabricate a fibrous scaffold that closely resembled the micro-structural architecture and mechanical properties of collagen fibres found in the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). To achieve this aim, fibrous scaffolds were made by electrospinning L-lactide based polymers. L-Lactide was chosen primarily due to its demonstrated biocompatibility, biodegradability and hi...

Despite numerous circumstantial evidences, the pathogenic role of TGF-β in primary myelofibrosis (PMF), the most severe of the Philadelphia-negative myeloproliferative neoplasms, is still unclear because of the modest (2-fold) increases in its plasma levels observed in PMF patients and in the Gata1(low) mouse model. Whether myelofibrosis is associated with increased bioavailability of TGF-β bou...

Experimental animal models are frequently used to study articular cartilage, but the relevance to man remains problematic. In this study animal models were compared by examination of the collagen fibre arrangement in the medial tibial plateau of human, cow, pig, dog, sheep, rabbit and rat specimens. 24 cartilage samples from each species were prepared and maximum cartilage thickness in the cent...

This review summarises the anatomy and lymphatic systems around pelvic floor. We investigated lymphovascular network in anorectal region, focusing on hiatal ligament, which comprises smooth muscle fibres derived from longitudinal connecting anal canal coccyx, endopelvic fascia, seems to comprise collagen elastic fibres. During rectal surgery, fascia is recognized as a sheet of covering levator ...

OBJECTIVE To investigate the structural organization of the connective tissue in the corpus cavernosum (CC) adjacent to the fibrous plaque in Peyronie's disease (PD) using stereological and biochemical techniques, as most studies on PD have focused on the analysis of the fibrous plaque that forms in the tunica albuginea (TA). Because this fibrotic reaction is mediated by various inflammatory so...

Males in many modern amniote taxa have a hydraulic penis that inflates for copulation. Hydraulic skeletons are typically reinforced with inextensible fibres; the specific arrangement of the fibres within the skeleton determines whether it is flexible or resists bending. I show that the hydraulic skeleton in the turtle penis is reinforced by an axial orthogonal array of collagen fibres. This mic...

In the current study, we fabricated a cardiac patch composed of gold nanowires incorporated in collagen fibres by electrospinning followed chemical crosslinking. Two other counterparts were fabricated; one with without cross linking and only fibres. The surface morphology was viewed via microscopy images complete analysis mechanical strength done. Swelling suture resistance tests along cytotoxi...