Figure 1.

Heterogeneous fibrocartilage stem cells (FCSCs) self-organize into vascularized bone-like tissue in a xenograft model at 8 wk. (a) Schematic demonstrating FCSC transplantation experiment. FCSCs were isolated from rat temporomandibular joint (TMJ) superficial zone (SZ) tissue, digested, expanded, seeded onto a collagen sponge, and transplanted on dorsum of nude mice for 8 wk. Transplanted collagen sponge with no cells served as a negative control. (b) Superior view of collagen sponges after 8 wk showed that FCSC transplants recruited blood vessels. (c) Representative hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining of FCSC transplants after 8 wk showed FCSCs spontaneously generated vascularized bone-like tissue. Black dashed box is shown in higher magnification on the right. Scale bar = 100 µm. (d) Immunohistochemistry for CD31 showed the presence of endothelial cells and new blood vessel–like formation. Green dashed box is shown in higher magnification on the right. Scale bar = 100 µm.