Fig. 3

Histological evaluation of synovitis and its association with the numbers and areas of colonies. A Representative images of synovium stained with hematoxylin and eosin. B Synovitis score (n = 6). *p < 0.05 by the Mann–Whitney U test between sham and pMx groups (black asterisks). *p < 0.05 by Kruskal–Wallis/Steel tests between intact and pMx groups (orange asterisks) and intact and sham groups (blue asterisks). C Scatterplot of the synovitis score and colony numbers or colony areas. The p values were calculated using Spearman’s rank correlation and adjusted using Bonferroni’s correction method