Fig. 6. Combination of androgen therapy with the DPCs cell-based transplantation augments the repair of segmental bone defects.

AR^flox/Y and AR^-/Y;Prrx1::Cre host mice received transplantations of bone grafts from AR^flox/Y or AR^-/Y;Prrx1::Cre donor mice and samples were acquired on 14 days after the operation. A AR^flox/Y and AR^-/Y;Prrx1::Cre mice received segmental bone defects, and then were implanted with scaffold containing vehicle control or 100 μg testosterone. These host mice were also treated with PDCs from AR^flox/Y donor mice by tail vein injection. B 3D micro-CT images of defect sites are shown at 35 days post operation. C The percentages of no callus formation, partial callus formation and complete callus bridging across the gap were quantified by X-ray image analysis. D, E The new bone volume and total callus volume were quantified by micro-CT analysis. Data are presented as mean ± SEM (n ≥ 3; *P < 0.05, **P < 0.001, one-way ANOVA). ND not detected.