Figure 4
Nanostructured zirconia substrates promote the activation of a mechanotransduction pathway. (A) Cells, grown on different substrates for 15 days, were triple stained with anti-vinculin antibody (green), phalloidin (actin, red) and DAPI (blue). Representative epifluorescence (actin and DAPI) and TIRFM (vinculin) images are shown. Bar: 20 μm. Arrows indicate focal complexes, arrowheads indicate focal adhesion. (B) Quantitative analyses of adhesive complexes, actin fibers organization and nuclear architecture of cells grown on different substrates. (a,b) Vinculin-positive clusters area, length and width; (c) number of vinculin clusters per cell; (d) cytoskeletal actin fibers length; (e,f) nuclear area and aspect (major/minor axis). Bars illustrate the average responses ± SE (N = 40–100 cells for each substrate) in two different islet preparations. (***p < 0.005, ns-ZrOx vs gelatin; °°p < 0.01, °°°p < 0.005, ns-ZrOx vs flat-ZrO2).
