Figure 2
Characterization of decellularized heart matrix for DNA and extracellular matrix content with DNA quantification, histological staining, and multiphoton imaging. (A) DNA content of the right ventricle (RV, triangles), septum (ST, circles), and left ventricle (LV, squares) for cadaveric hearts compared to decellularized Langendorff (n = 4) or 4-Flow cannulated hearts (n = 4). (B) Masson’s trichrome staining of representative Langendorff (n = 4) and 4-Flow (n = 4) hearts for preserved collagen (blue) and clearance of nuclear remnants (absence of positively stained purple nuclei). (C) Multiphoton microscopy visualization of collagen (pseudocolored - cyan) and elastin (pseudocolored - yellow) fibrillar strcutures and organization in 3D (n = 4). (D) Immunostaining of histology sections important extracellular matrix proteins: collagen I, collagen IV, and laminin (n = 4). (E) The list of preserved extracellular matrix proteins in decellularized 4-Flow hearts as detected by mass spectrometry (n = 4).
