Figure 2

Epigallocatechin 3-gallate administration reduced the degradation of type II collagen in the articular cartilage matrix. Immunohistochemical staining of type II collagen cleavage epitope (Col2-3/4 M) and relative staining intensity of the articular cartilage matrix of mice that underwent sham operations or surgical destabilization of the medial meniscus (DMM) that were treated with vehicle or epigallocatechin 3-gallate (EGCG) at 4 weeks (A and B) and 8 weeks (C and D) following surgery (*P < 0.05 by analysis of variance; n = 6/group). Scale bar = 100 μM. (E) Representative staining of tissue sections with isotype control (mouse immunoglobulin G (IgG)).