Polarization-resolved SHG microscopy of rat-tail tendon with controlled mechanical strain

We combined polarization-resolved SHG microscopy with mechanical assays in rat-tail-tendon and measured collagen remodeling upon controlled stretching. This approach aimed to analyze the relationship between macroscopic response and sub-micrometer scale organization of collagen fibrils. We observed a straightening of the crimps followed by a sliding of the fibrils with increasing stretching of the tendon fascicles. Polarization resolution of the SHG images provided complementary information about the orientation dispersion of collagen fibrils within the focal volume and enabled monitoring of collagen remodeling at the sub-micrometer scale. Our approach can be readily generalized to other tissues and should bring new valuable information about biomechanics of microstructured tissues.