Figure 1. Experimental layout and timepoints.

MSCs were harvested from the tuber ischiadicum and chondrocytes from fetlock joints, and both cells were encapsuled in alginate beads. While the MSCs were differentiated chondrogenically for three weeks (day -21 to day 0), the chondrocytes were kept in serum medium for two weeks (day -14 to day 0). The beads were then submitted to hormonal treatment for five weeks (day 0 to day 35) with weekly samples for analysis.