Fig. 5

Catalpol increases the bone healing capacity of BMSCs in a rat critical-sized calvarial defect model. a MicroCT 3D reconstruction and coronal images of the defect area at 8 weeks after surgery in each group. b, c MicroCT analyses of bone volume/total volume (BV/TV) and bone mineral density (BMD). d Histological evaluation of the defect area by van Gieson’s picrofuchsin staining and Goldner’s trichome staining at 8 weeks after surgery in each group. Goldner’s trichome staining showed green-stained mineralized bone (MB) and red-stained unmineralized bone (UB). Osteoblasts (OB) were located on the surfaces of the UB, and osteocytes (OT) were also observed. e, f WB analysis of β-catenin expression in the defect areas at 8 weeks after surgery in each group. g 3D reconstruction images of blood vessels examined by microCT scanning. h, i Quantification of microCT images of the vessel area and vessel number in the defect area. The data were confirmed by three repeated tests. The data are presented as the means ± SD. VG, van Gieson’s picrofuchsin staining; Goldner, Goldner’s trichome staining; CA, catalpol. *P < 0.05 compared with the control group, ^#P < 0.05 compared with the BMSC group