Figure 8.

Results of the early stage of apoptosis of the osteoarthritis (OA) chondrocytes at 0, 2, 12, 24 and 48 h and the GsMTx4 group. After 2 h of mechanical stretch, the rate of the early-stage apoptosis was increased significantly. After 12 h of mechanical stretch, the late-stage apoptotic rate was increased and in the 24 h group, the late-stage apoptotic rate was the highest; while in the 48 h group, the late-stage apoptotic rate was lower than the 24 h group. Results represent mean ± SD. NS, not significant at P>0.05, the mechanical stretch group vs. the blank group; ^*P<0.05 and ^**P<0.01 the mechanical stretch group vs. the blank group.