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Figure 2 Collagen content and morphology in remote zones from infarction in placebo (left column) and growth hormone (GH)-treated rats (right column), picrosirius red staining. In the placebo group (A), collagen fibers (in red) appear shorter and thicker than in the GH group (B). Compared with panel D, panel C exhibits a marked deposition of collagen fibers that encapsulate cardiomyocytes and fill the interstitial gaps. Panels E and F show collagen I antibody stain in the placebo and GH groups, respectively. In panels G and H collagen I appears red-yellowish, whereas collagen III appears green under polarized light. Collagen III is substantially reduced in panel G (placebo) compared with panel H (GH). Collagen I is the major component of thick and short collagen fibers in panel G and of long and thin fibers in panel H, where also a weak collagen III network can be appreciated. Bar = 20 µm.