Fig. 3: Reln^−/− mice showed deficiency of tendon regeneration.

A HE staining of Patellar tendon, Achilles tendon and tail tendon in WT and Reln^−/− mice. B The footprints and AFI in control and 4 weeks after Achilles tendon transection of WT and Reln^−/− mice. C HE staining, Masson’s trichrome staining and collagen content analysis in control and 4 weeks after Achilles tendon transection of WT and Reln^−/− mice. D The microstructure of tendons and collagen fiber diameters quantification in control and 4 weeks after Achilles tendon transection of WT and Reln^−/− mice, as assessed by SEM and TEM analysis. E The tendon contours and inflammation signaling in control and 4 weeks after Achilles tendon transection of WT and Reln^−/− mice, as analyzed by sagittal T2 MRI. F, G The stress at failure and modulus of Achilles tendon in control and 4 weeks after Achilles tendon transection of WT and Reln^−/− mice. Red arrow: indicate the inflammation signal. Each dot represents one individual replicate (n = 5 biological replicates in B, C, E, F, G). Statistical significance was analyzed by One-way ANOVA with Tukey’s multiple comparisons test (B, C, E, F, G).