Figure 6.

ATP oscillations have a critical role for prechondrogenic condensation during chondrogenesis in micromass culture of mMSC. (a) Bioluminescence monitoring of P_ACTIN-PxRe activity in mMSCs after changing the maintenance medium, the chondrogenic medium, or chondrogenic medium implemented with 2-DG. (b) Condensation behaviours of mMSCs were examined with phase contrast images after 2 days of replacement with the maintenance medium, the chondrogenic medium, or chondrogenic medium implemented with 2-DG. Scale bars, 100 μm. (c) Gene expression analysis of type II collagen (COL2A1), aggrecan, and Sox9 in the micromass culture of mMSCs after 2 days of replacement with the maintenance medium, the chondrogenic medium (Chondro), or chondrogenic medium implemented with 2-DG (Chondro + 2-DG). Data show mean±S.D. (n=4). Dunnett's test, ^**P<0.01 by ANOVA compared with maintenance medium