Figure 5.

The time course of changes in cartilage thickness in the femur (upper row) and tibia (lower row). The results of the control group (ctrl) are indicated by white circles; those of the experimental group (exp) are indicated by gray circles. In the experimental group, differences in the transitional region of the femur and contact region of the tibia were more significant than those in the control group. In the experimental group, the thickness in the transitional regions was greater than that in the contact regions in the same bone, particularly the tibia, throughout the experimental period. Significant differences in cartilage thickness between the control and experimental groups at the same time point are indicated (**P < 0.01, *P < 0.05).