Figure 2.

Zonal construct analysis after 12 weeks of pre-culture and one week of compressive loading (Comp) or free-swelling (NC) culture. (a) S and MD constructs expressed both collagen types I and II during the long-term culture. (b) DNA and (c) GAG content in constructs did not vary significantly regardless of zones or loading conditions. MD constructs were significantly stiffer compared with the S constructs under free-swelling conditions, and one-week compression decreased the stiffness in MD zone constructs (d). **p < 0.01. Scale bars, 100 µm.