Figure 1.

The capacity of human amniotic fluid stem cells (hAFSCs) to differentiate into osteogenic, adipogenic, and chondrogenic lineages. (a) In culture, hAFSCs have fibroblast-like morphology. (b) Adipogenic differentiation was evaluated using Oil Red O staining. Cytoplasmic lipid droplets appear red ( × 400). (c, d) Osteogenic differentiation was confirmed by Alizarin red and alkaline phosphatase staining. Calcium deposits and alkaline phosphatase activity appear red ( × 100 and × 400, respectively). (e, f) Chondrogenic differentiation was confirmed by hematoxylin and eosin and immunofluorescence staining using specific monoclonal antibodies against type II collagen ( × 200 and × 400, respectively).