Figure 3

Mean fibril diameters for constructs were similar to embryonic tendon, and supplemented GDF5 improved peritenon progenitor-derived construct mean fibril diameters. Fibril diameters of tendon proper progenitor-seeded (TP) constructs were greater than those of the peritenon-derived progenitor (PERI) constructs as well as those of embryonic Achilles tendon (E15 to E17) (A). Supplementation with GDF5 increased fibril diameters within PERI constructs (B) but not TP constructs. For each group, the mean fibril diameters with 95% confidence interval (CI) are compared (C), and fibril diameter analyses are also given for each group (D) – mean fibril diameters ± standard deviation, median, first and third quartiles. Significant differences are demonstrated via t-test statistical analyses of fibrils analyzed in each group’s images (E). Replicates (n) represent each image analyzed per group: E15 to E17, n = 32; TP, n = 64; TP + GDF5, n = 32; PERI, n = 32; PERI + GDF5, n = 24. E, embryonic day; GDF5, growth differentiation factor 5.