Figure 4.

Chondroprotection by Ucn involves the prevention of Ca²⁺ overload and blockade of a non-selective cation channel. (a) Representative images of explants 1 h post-impact with or without Ucn pre-treatment. Intracellular calcium stained with Fluo-4 AM (green) and nuclei with Hoechst-33258 (blue). (b) Quantification of Fluo-4 AM-stained cells from experiments shown in (a) (n = 6 explants, 5 fields of view/explant; # = p < 0.05 vs. non-treated, * = p < 0.01 vs. impact). (c) Representative images of explants 1 h post-impact with or without Ucn or Gd³⁺ treatment. Intracellular calcium stained with Fluo-4 AM (green) and nuclei with Hoechst-33258 (blue). (d) Quantification of Fluo-4 AM-stained cells from experiments shown in (c) (n = 6 explants, 5 fields of view/explant; # = p < 0.05 vs. non-treated, * = p < 0.01 vs. impact).