Figure 3

Immunohistochemical study of type II collagen after autologous chondrocyte implantation. Type II collagen is seen throughout most hyaline-like repair tissue (c), as identified on an adjacent section stained with H&E (a) and viewed with polarised light (b), showing zonal matrix organisation similar to that seen in normal adult articular cartilage in the surface (S), mid (M), and deep (D) zones (sample 22). In (c), note the lack of staining for type II collagen both at the surface (N) and in the bone (B). Samples with a mixed morphology (d-f) (sample 16) and some with a fibrocartilage morphology were mostly stained positively for type II collagen also, whereas a few fibrocartilagenous biopsy specimens (g) (sample 14) were negative for type II collagen (h). H&E = haematoxylin and eosin.