FIG. 2.

The effect of treatment on chondrocyte proliferation. Viable cell counts were taken using Trypan blue exclusion assay with a hemocytometer. The values, given as percentage, represent the difference in cell numbers at the end of the experiment (day 4) between the treatment groups and untreated controls. (A) Concurrent treatment with transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 (1 ng/mL) and exogenous heparin (30 μg/mL) significantly increased chondrocyte proliferation as a 34% increase in cell numbers was observed compared with untreated controls. (B) No significant increase in cell numbers between experimental and untreated control groups was observed after enzymatic removal of surface glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) with heparinase I (HEP-I) or chondroitinase-ABC (C-ABC). Values presented as percent mean±standard error. *p<0.05 compared with untreated control.