Fig. 3

Mechanical loading impacts ex vivo tendon damage. Ex vivo static (a) and cyclically loaded (b, c) bovine flexor tendon fascicles immunostained for inflammatory markers IL-6 (red) and COX-2 (green), and co-labeled for cell nuclei (DAPI, blue). Fascicles and the interfascicular matrix of the loaded samples show damage (white ellipses), with collagen fiber kinks and interfascicular matrix disruption. IL-6 and COX-2 are found in loaded samples only, with COX-2 expression increasing with cycle number. Scale bar = 10 μm. Figure reprinted under a Creative Commons Attribution License from Spiesz et al. 2015 [147]