Fig. 1

The effects of TD198946 on chondrogenic pellet culture. a Microscopic view of expanded chondrocytes at P0 and P3. Scale bars = 100 μm. b Macroscopic views of pellets treated with vehicle, 1 nM to 100 nM TD198946 at day 14. Scale bars = 1 mm. Histological images for Safranin-O, IHC for type I collagen II collagen at day 14. Scale bars = 500 μm (Low magnification: upper panels) and 100 μm (High magnification: below Low magnification). Upper images: high magnification views of central zone of pellet. Lower images: high magnification views of surface zone of pellet. High magnification panels are magnified images of the specific zone represented by the square on the low magnification view. c, d Quantitative area showing measurement of type I and II collagen. (n = 3) Mean ± SD, *: p < 0.05. e: sGAG content of pellets treated with vehicle, 1 nM to 1000 nM TD-198946 at day 14. (n = 5) Mean + SD. f Gene expression analysis of pellets at day 7 (n = 5) and chondrocyte at P0 (n = 5). Mean ± SD, *: p < 0.05. Abbreviations: IHC, Immunohistochemistry