FIGURE 2.

DWJM combined with chondrocyte – like IVD cells or mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) from WJ. (A) Effect on cell viability was determined by Calcein-AM/Propidium Iodide double staining after 7 days of culture. Dead cells (red cells) were undetectable. High magnification images are shown in the insets. Effect on cell proliferation was determined by alamarBlue^TM assay in IVD cells (red dotted lane) and MSCs (black dotted lane) cultured up to 14 days, data are presented as mean absorbance (A.U., absorbance unit ± SD, n = 3). (B) Effect on cell distribution was determined fluorescence microscopy analysis of DAPI-stained cells cultured up to 14 days. The percentage of seeded area is reported in the graph, n = 6. *p < 0.05. Bar: 200 μm. (C) Representative images of SEM and TEM analysis. The presence of seeded cells on the DWJM surface is indicated by the arrows. Asterisks (*) indicate electron-dense areas close to the cellular membrane, white triangles indicate the presence of vesicles budding from the cell surface. Bars: 2 μm (SEM images); 200 nm (TEM images).