Fig. 7.

Analyses of aggrecan and Sox9 expression levels and patterns.

(A-C) Aggrecan and Sox9 expression levels (A-B) and 4x48bp Sox reporter activity (C) in primary chondrocyte cultures treated with 100 nM inverse agonist (INV) or 1 μM RA compared to untreated cultures (None). (D-K) RARE reporter activities in control, RARα/RARβ-, RARβ/RARγ- and RARα/RARγ-deficient chondrocyte cultures before (None) or after treatment with inverse agonist, RA or RARγ-selective agonist. All reporter assays were repeated 3-5 times and we obtained reproducible results. (L-O) In situ hybridization analysis of Sox9 expression in 3 week-old (L-M) and 5 week-old (N-O) proximal tibial growth plates from control (L and N) and RARβ/RARγ-deficient (M and O) littermates.