Figure 1.

The aged AF cells were compared with newborn AF cells according to gene expression by RT-PCR. The level of expression of type I collagen decreased with age. Significance is seen between the newborn and the older group, but not between the Newborn and the mature group. The level of expression of type II collagen and aggrecan were significantly decreased from the Newborn in both the mature and older group whereas the level of mRNA for MMP-1 was highly expressed in aged AF. The respective cells from Newborn (n = 10, 1-2 weeks old) Mature (n = 7, 7-8 month old) or Older (n = 4, 2-3 years old) pigs were extracted for mRNA and specific genes were quantitated by real time RT-PCR. The mRNA levels are normalized to values for housekeeping genes and plotted as change relative to newborn (%). Data is presented as mean ± SD. (^* Indicates P < 0.05 relative to newborn tissue)