Fig. 5.

HE staining (A) and Safranin-O staining (B) show minimal histopathological lesions observed in the ankle joint after MIA injection. Healthy hyaline cartilage covering the talotarsal surface containing intact chondrocytes embedded in healthy ground substance is shown in A1 (HE staining), and confirmed by Safranin-O staining in B1. Figures A2 and B2 show focal articular ulceration seen on the talar surface. Loss of viability in superficial chondrocytes is accompanied by loss of superficial proteoglycan (HE staining and Safranin-O staining, respectively).