Fig. 1

Schematics of mechanical stretching induced organoid culture system. a Crypts were isolated and mixed with matrix to create gel strip. b Linearized gel wrapped with crypts was sustained for three-day static incubation, then subjected to stretching for three days, and finally harvested on day 7 for imaging, data acquisition, and analysis, or to passage for another round of stretch. Organoids incubated under static conditions during the whole process were selected as a control group. Stretching-induced organoid exhibited size and crypt number increase in comparison with the static culture. Scale bar, 100 μm