FIG. 8.

Comparative study of matrix-grown chondrocytes and plate-grown ones in pellet cultures. The size of the matrix-grown chondrocyte pellet (MGCP) was significantly larger compared with the plate-grown chondrocyte pellet (PGCP) (A). The scale bar is 1 mm. Both pellets showed that GAG was distributed over the entire area of the pellet, as identified using Safranin-O staining (B). The immunohistochemistry of Col II revealed that MGCP had a better cartilaginous matrix, with more positive staining around peripheral area compared to PGCP that showed a poorly organized matrix. Measurement of GAG content also revealed that matrix-cultured chondrocytes were able to synthesize and accumulate more GAG, and that the difference between MGCP and PGCP was statistically significant (**p<0.01) (C). Color images available online at www.liebertpub.com/tea