Figure 7.

After 1 week in culture (preconditioning), porcine chondrocyte CTAs were loaded for 1 week, 2 weeks, and 3 weeks. ECM gene expression in porcine chondrocyte CTAs loaded for up to 3 weeks. Experimental conditions were performed in triplicate, and CTAs were collected after each week of loading (i.e., after 1, 2, and 3 weeks of loading 3 times a week). Representative data show the effect on ECM-specific genes in response to hydrostatic load. In general, cartilage-specific genes are upregulated with increased duration of loading regimen. Note that collagen type II and aggrecan, the major macromolecules of cartilage, expression are upregulated at all time points as a result of loading. Relative expression is 2^−ΔΔC _T. GAPDH serves as the reference gene. Error bars represent SEM. Statistical analysis using ANOVA. *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, n = 3.