Microfibrils.

<p>TEM micrographs showing the distribution of microfibrils in CDLs in standard (A) and stiff (B) states.</p

Distance between collagen fibrils.

<p>Mean interfibrillar distance of CDLs in the three mechanical states. ***P<0.0001. Data are expressed as means ± SD.</p

Arrangement of collagen fibrils.

<p>(A–C) FEG/ESEM and (D–F) TEM micrographs. (A, D) Compliant state. (B, E) Standard state. (C, F) Stiff state.</p

JLCs in the different mechanical states.

<p>(A–C) TEM micrographs of compliant (A), standard (B) and stiff (C) CDLs. (D) Size of JLC granules in different mechanical states. *P<0.05. (E) Number of JLC granules in different mechanical states. **P<0.01; ***P<0.001. Data are expressed as means ± SD.</p

Juxtaligamental cells.

<p>(A) CSEM micrograph showing a transverse section of a JLC (arrow) within the collagen array. (B–D) FEG/ESEM micrographs of resin- embedded samples. The dissolution of resin allows the direct visualization of a fractured JLC process (arrow), showing (B) the internal granules, (C) granules inside the cell membrane (arrow), and (D) the variation in JLC granule size.</p

Histology of CDLs in different functional states.

<p>(A–C) Semi-thin longitudinal sections and (D–F) FEG/ESEM micrographs showing CDLs in the compliant state (A, D), standard state (B, E) and stiff state (C, F). Asterisks, cells; ce, coelomic epithelium; cm, collagen fibers; my, myoepithelium.</p

CDL extracellular matrix.

<p>(A) Cryo-SEM and (B–H) FEG/ESEM micrographs showing a (A) general view of CDL compliant matrix. (B) Detail of collagen fibrils and fibrillin (arrow). (C) Parallel array of collagen fibrils showing a clear D-banding pattern. (D) Enlargement of Fig. 3B showing a fibrillin bundle (arrow). (E) Enlargement of Fig. 3B showing a fibrillin meshwork. (F) Loose fibrillin meshwork (arrow) on surface of collagen fibrils. (G, H) Interfibrillar bridges linking adjacent fibrils (*).</p

Proteoglycans presence and distribution.

<p>Longitudinal section of CDL stained with (A) alcian blue at pH 2.5 and cuprolinic blue (B) (arrows, cuprolinic blue stained precipitates).</p