Fig. 4.

Stimulation of chondrocyte maturation by Wnt8c is enhanced by BMP-2 and abolished by TGF-β. Embryonic chick upper sternal chondrocyte were infected with either a control RCAS virus, or viruses containing an insert for Wnt8c at the time of plating. After an initial 48 h culture period in medium containing fresh viral supernatant mixed in a 1:1 ratio with plating medium, fresh control medium or medium containing TGF-β (5 ng/ml) or BMP-2 (50 ng/ml) was added. Total RNA was extracted from the cultures 5 days later and gene expressions determined by real-time RT-PCR using chick specific primers for either colX (A) or alkaline phosphatase (B). The data shown are representative results of three independent experiments; bars, ±standard deviation.