Fig. 1

Representative images of H&E staining of both CG and DG patellar tendons at weeks 1, 2, and 4 post-STZ induction. 1A–1C: All of the CG tendons at different time points showed the tight, parallel arrangement of collagen fibers distributed at the same orientation with slight waves. The bundles of collagen fiber were about the same size as well as the tendon cells. 1D–1F: Alternations of collagen fibers arrangement, micro-tears of collagen fibers (arrow), the rounded tendon cells (diamond), and even some red blood cells and blood vessels (rectangle) were observed in diabetic tendons. n = 6 of each group. Scale bar = 100 μm