Transmission microscopy of cellular ultrastructural and extracellular matrix organization.

<p>Transmission electron micrographs, within the cartilaginous region, of the engineered elastic cartilaginous constructs after 4 weeks of bioreactor culture compared to native auricular cartilage. Native auricular cartilage (A, B), Control (C, D), IGF-1 (E, F), and Insulin (G, H). Separate images were taken for both the cellular ultrastructure (A, C, E, G) and organization of the extracellular matrix (B, D, F, H). Arrows denote presence of elastic fibres. In native auricular cartilage, the elastic fibres (B and insert) appear to be more organized, dense and weakly contrasted compared to the elastic fibres present in the engineered constructs (D, F, H). Scale bars: A, C, E, G: 5 µm; B: 2 µm; D, F, H: 1 µm.