Fig. 1.

The bar graph shows the change in the inhibitory effect of cyclic tensile loading on MMP-13 mRNA expression following 48 hours of stress deprivation. All experimental samples were quantified relative to the 0 hour fresh control. Group 1: fresh (0 hour control); Group 2: stress-deprived for 24 hours; Group 3: 1% cyclic strain at 0.17 Hz for 24 hours; Group 4: stress-deprived for 48 hours; Group 5: stress-deprived for 72 hours; Group 6: stress-deprived for 48 hours followed by 1% cyclic strain at 0.17 Hz for 24 hours; Group 7: stress-deprived for 48 hours followed by 3% cyclic strain at 0.17 Hz for 24 hours; Group 8: stress-deprived for 48 hours followed by 6% cyclic strain at 0.17 Hz for 24 hours. Numbers above each bar signify significant (p < 0.05) differences between specific groups.