Figure 1

Notochordal cells in culture. Histopathological slides (hematoxylin and eosin (H&E)) of (A) notochordal cells (NCs) on day 1, H&E of NCs on day 28 with different morphologies; (B) NC-like clusters with vacuoles; (C) fibroblast-like clusters; and (D) small, round cells in clusters (scale bar = 50 μm for H&E). (E) DNA content, (F) glycosaminoglycan content normalized to DNA (GAG/DNA), and gene expression of (G) brachyury; (H) aggrecan; (I) collagen, type II, α1 (collagen 2A1); and (J) collagen, type I, α1 (collage 1A1). White bars = day 1, gray bars = day 15, black bars = day 28. *P < 0.05, significantly different from day 1.