Figure 1.

Articular cartilage degradation from both wild type and RAGE KO samples was objectively evaluated using a modified Mankin score by two blind scorers. Tissue samples were collected from Wild Type (A) and RAGE KO (B) at 28 days post-surgery and prepared with Safarnin O/Fast Green histological stains prior to Mankin scoring. Means of RAGE KO (n = 7) and wild type (n = 7) modified Mankin scores were compared to detect differences in cartilage degradation, and consequently, differences in OA. The mean of the wild type sample (modified Mankin Score = 4.89) was significantly higher than that of the RAGE KO sample (modified Mankin Score = 2.96) as determined by an ANOVA statistical test (^*p < 0.05). The scale bar, valid for every image, is 50 μm.