Heterogeneously Strained Tissue Collagen Resists Collagenase Degradation Where Strains are High

Tissue homeostasis reflects a balance of synthesis and degradation, and past studies of homogeneously stressed tissues and collagen materials indicate collagen degradation is suppressed by strain. Such processes are studied here in isolated tendons and in beating embryonic hearts. Collagen fibrils in tendon fascicles orient along the tension axis, but heterogeneous strains and gradients were induced using three-point bending plus adhesion, with...