Morphology of differentiated AEC toward tenocyte lineage after co-culture.

<p>The four top images reproduce the more representative phenotypes acquired by AEC (monolayer, circular aggregates, elongated, and tendon-like structures) during the 4 weeks of co-incubation. The bigger images were obtained with the aid of a contrast microscope, while the small ones, inserted in the corner, represent a low magnification recorded under a stereomicroscope. In the lower part of the Table, the incubation intervals (expressed in weeks) required to obtain these different phenotypes are indicated. Scale bar for all images = 50 µm.