Assessment of collagen fibril spacing in relation to selected region of interest (ROI) on electron micrographs--application to the mammalian corneal stroma

Age-related dataset on the mechanical properties and collagen fibril structure of tendons from a murine model

Connective tissues such as tendon, ligament and skin are biological fibre composites comprising collagen fibrils reinforcing the weak proteoglycan-rich ground substance in extracellular matrix (ECM). One of the hallmarks of ageing of connective tissues is the progressive and irreversible change in the tissue mechanical properties; this is often attributed to the underlying changes to the collagen fibril structure. This dataset represents a comprehensive screen of the mechanical properties and collagen fibril structure of tendon from the tails of young to old (i.e. 1.6-35.3 month-old) C57BL6/B mice. The mechanical portion consists of the load-displacement data, as well as the derived tensile properties; the structure data consists of transmission electron micrographs of collagen fibril cross section, as well as the derived cross-sectional parameters. This dataset will allow other researchers to develop and demonstrate the utility of innovative multiscale models and approaches of the extra-cellular and physiological events of ageing of current interest to ageing research, by reducing the current reliance on conducting new mammalian experiments.

Averaged spacing and 2-d organization of collagen fibrils in the posterior cornea of the rabbit eye assessed by transmission electron microscopy

PURPOSE

To assess how reproducible collagen fibril spacing might be in the corneal stroma as viewed by transmission electron microscopy by calculating averaged values for the 2-D organization.

METHODS

One cornea from 8 albino rabbits (2 kg) was fixed in situ to preserve natural shape. Thin sections were stained with 2% phosphotungstic acid (PTA) and images taken of fibrils from the central-posterior stroma. After projection at 250,000 X magnification, an overlay was prepared of the fibrils. Using a 500 × 500 nm region of interest (ROI), the distances to all fibril centers were measured to 2 nm resolution.

RESULTS

The sets of fibrils had average diameters between 32.4 and 36.1 nm (group mean ± SD of 34.4 ± 4.2 nm). The mean fibril density was 396 ± 21 per square micrometer, with a fibril area fraction of 38.7 ± 3.9%. The mean distance to the literal nearest neighbor fibril center was 43.2 ± 4.5 nm. A radial distribution analysis showed a distinct nearest neighbors peak at 51 nm. This nearest neighbors peak had an average amplitude of 2.236 ± 0.315, with a broader secondary peak being evident in all data sets centered at 93 nm with an average amplitude of 1.166 ± 0.093 (or 53.3 ± 7.1% of the nearest neighbors peak).

CONCLUSIONS

Overall, these results show that a predictable 2-D organization can be demonstrated for collagen fibrils in rabbit corneas when consideration is given to sample selection and preparation and the image analysis strategy.