Collagen fibrils were analyzed using transmission electron microscopy (TEM).

Abstract

<p>Collagen fibril diameter distribution and average fibril diameter per tumor in 4T1 (n = 7 and n = 5) tumors (A, B), showed a shift towards thinner fibrils in SCID integrin α11-deficient (α11-KO) mice. RM11 tumors (n = 4 and n = 3) (C, D) and dermis (n = 4 and n = 3) (E, F) showed no significant differences in average collagen fibril diameter in SCID integrin α11 wild type (WT) and SCID integrin α11-deficient (α11-KO) mice (RM11 p = 0.20, dermis p = 0.47) using unpaired two-tailed t-test. Mean ± SD. * p < 0.006. Representative TEM images of collagen fibrils from both genotypes in 4T1 tumors (G, H), RM11 tumors (I, J) and dermis (K, L) are shown. Scale bars indicate 0.2 μm.</p