Fig. 1: Synapse densities are lower on stiff substrates than on soft substrates.
From: Environmental stiffness regulates neuronal maturation via Piezo1-mediated transthyretin activity
Immunocytochemistry of neurons cultured on a soft (0.1 kPa) and b stiff (10 kPa) substrates, showing (from top to bottom) neurofilament (NF), postsynaptic marker (NRL), vesicular glutamate transporter 2 (Vglut2; excitatory), vesicular GABA transporter (VGAT; inhibitory), and an overlay of all channels. c, d Quantification of synapse densities. Both glutamatergic and GABAergic synapse densities were lower on stiff substrates than on soft ones at DIVs 10 and 14. Boxplots showing detected synapses per mm neurofilament; p-values provided above the plots (two-tailed t-tests). Data from three independent experiments. For DIV 10, 31 fields of view (FOV) were analysed on 0.1 kPa substrates and 37 FOV on 10 kPa substrates. For DIV 14, 35 FOV were analysed on 0.1 kPa substrates and 40 FOV on 10 kPa substrates. Boxplots show the median (central line), the interquartile range (boxes), and whiskers represent 1.5 times the interquartile range. Scale bar: 5 μm.
