Fig. 6

Characterisation of induced micro-pellets used for sheep studies. a oBMSC and b oACh micro-pellet sections stained with Alcian blue for GAG following 10 days of chondrogenic induction (scale bar = 500 μm and inset scale bar = 100 μm). c qPCR analysis of cartilage-like tissues formed from oBMSC and oACh after expansion (day 0) and 10 days after chondrogenic induction (day 10). Relative gene expression was assessed for chondrogenic genes COL2A1, ACAN, and SOX9, and for hypertrophic genes COL1A1, COL10A1, and RUNX2. Gene expression levels were normalised to GAPDH and represent 2^-ΔCt values. The two unique donors are distinguished by black versus grey symbols. The mean is represented by the horizontal line (*P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, ***P < 0.001, and ****P < 0.0001)