Figure 6.

Influences of cell number per an aggregate and of aggregate number for transplantation. (A): Macroscopic and histological observation four weeks after transplantation of 25 or 100 aggregates in which an aggregate consisted of 100,000 MSCs. (B): Histological score. Values are the means with SD (n = 4; P < 0.05 by the Mann-Whitney U test). (C): Ratio of the safranin-O positive area to the defect area. Values are the means with SD. (n = 4; P < 0.05 by the Mann-Whitney U test). (D): Histological observation two weeks after transplantation of 10 and 80 aggregates in which an aggregate consisted of 250,000 MSCs labeled with DiI. Sagittal sections under fluorescence and the serial sections stained with TUNEL were shown. (E): In vitro analyses of aggregates of rabbit synovial MSCs. One or 40 aggregates, in which an aggregate consisted of 250,000 MSCs, were cultured in a well of 96-well plates. Macroscopic images for the wells and sagittal sections of the aggregates stained with TUNEL were shown.