Figure 7

Rat strain-specific effects of 17β-estradiol on extracellular matrix and associated collagens. A, Representative images of mammary tissues, sectioned and stained with Picrosirius Red, from ACI and BN rats treated with E2 for 1, 3 or 12 weeks (n = 3). When imaged under bright field illumination, ECM associated collagens appear red, non-collagenous tissue and intraluminal secreta appear green. When imaged under polarized light, collagens appear green-yellow-orange-red. Scale bars, 200 μm. B, Representative SHG images of mammary tissues from ACI and BN rats treated with E2 for 1, 3 or 12 weeks (n = 3). Scale bars, 100 μm. Together, these images illustrate a robust collagenous stroma associated with ectatic ducts in mammary glands of E2 treated BN rats.