rgbImage = cat(3, cells,z,z); % 3-D true color image from 2 other gray scale images.
axes(handles.axes_1); % Set current axes to this one.
imshow(rgbImage); % or use image() instead of imshow() if you want.
% Optional stuff:
axis on;
axis equal;
axis tight;
axis image;
title('This image is in axis_1', 'FontSize', 20);