Figure 6.

(A) Cell proliferation in normal tendon and LSDCT models. The total cell number [implanted cells plus daughter cells (DiI stained)] was more at the four weeks of culture compared with two weeks culture in both high and low cell density groups, but no significant difference was observed. Cell proliferation was significantly affected by cell density and culture time. (B) Cell viability was assessed by live/dead assay and presented with percentage of live/live + dead cells. The LSDCT + BMSC 4H group presented the lowest cell viability with significant difference to other BMSC-seeded groups. Both factors of cell density and culture time significantly affected the cell viability in the LSDCT. Error bars indicate ±1 standard deviation. ^$Significant difference (p < .05) between each BMSC-seeded group and normal tendon (Independent t test). ^∗∗Very significant difference (p < .01) (one-way ANOVA). ⁺Significant difference between seeded cell densities (two-way ANOVA). ^#Significant difference between culture times (two-way ANOVA).

ANOVA = analysis of variance; BMSC = bone marrow stromal cell.