Fig. 1From: Sprifermin (rhFGF18) modulates extracellular matrix turnover in cartilage explants ex vivoCell proliferation, metabolic activity and type II collagen formation. Bovine cartilage explants were cultured for 3 weeks with weekly administration (72 h duration) of indicated compounds. a Cell proliferation was visualized by staining for PCNA in FFPE tissue slides from three replicate explants for each time point and treatment. One representative explant is shown. Scale bar applies to all pictures. b Metabolic activity was measured using AlamarBlue after 0, 1, 2 and 3 weeks of compound-culturing. Values were baseline-corrected and data presented as mean ± SEM of six replicate explants. c ProC2 (Nordic Bioscience) was measured in conditioned media collected at 0, 1, 2 and 3 weeks of compound-culturing. Values were placebo-corrected and data presented as mean ± SEM of six replicate explants. All results are from one study (Study 1). Unpaired t-test was used to compare the treatment group to the placebo group at each time point. Significance levels are indicated by asterisks; *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, ***P < 0.001Back to article page