Figure 2.

The aged NP cells were compared with newborn NP cells according to gene expression by RT-PCR. Although the level of mRNA for type II collagen and aggrecan were highly expressed in the mature group. Finally, the level of expression of type I collagen, type II collagen and aggrecan decreased with age. Show the opposite pattern in the level of expression of MMP-1 according to aged. The respective cells from Newborn (n = 5, 1-2 weeks old) Mature (n = 5, 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)