Fig. 3

Effects of ATRA on DEX-inhibited osteogenic differentiation. a ALP staining demonstrated the effect of different concentrations of ATRA on DEX-inhibited ALP activities in MEFs after 5 and 7 days. b Quantification of ALP staining showed the effect of different concentrations of ATRA on DEX-inhibited ALP activities, *p < 0.05 vs BMP9 + DEX, **p < 0.01 vs BMP9 + DEX. c Western blot results demonstrated the effect of different concentrations of ATRA on DEX-inhibited protein expression of osteogenic markers. d–f Quantification of western blot showed the effect of different concentrations of ATRA on DEX-inhibited osteogenic marker ALP, RUNX2, and OPN, *p < 0.05 vs BMP9 + DEX, **p < 0.01 vs BMP9 + DEX. g Alizarin Red S staining showed the effect of different concentrations of ATRA on DEX-inhibited matrix mineralization in MEFs after 21 days. h Quantification of matrix mineralization demonstrated the effect of ATRA on DEX-inhibited matrix mineralization in MEFs, *p < 0.05 vs BMP9 + DEX, **p < 0.01 vs BMP9 + DEX. i Immunofluorescent staining showed the effect of different concentrations of ATRA on DEX-inhibited RUNX2 expression after 24 h. GFP, green fluorescent protein; DMSO, dimethyl sulfoxide; DEX, dexamethasone; OPN, osteopontin