Fig. 7

Effect of local injection of GW4869 and exosomes on cartilage degeneration and calcification of condylar cartilage in the TMJs of rats. A Cartilage degeneration of the TMJ was alleviated in UAC rats injected with GW4869 (n = 6). B Cartilage calcification of the TMJ was alleviated in UAC rats injected with GW4869 (n = 6). Scale bar = 100 μm. Green bar, calcified cartilage. UAC, unilateral anterior crossbite group; UAC + GW4869, unilateral anterior crossbite group with GW4869 injection; 8w, 8 weeks; 12w, 12 weeks. All data are presented as means ± SD. Comparisons between the UAC and UAC + GW4869 group of the same timepoint were performed by Student’s t test. **P < 0.01, compared with the age-matched UAC group. C Cartilage degeneration of the TMJ was induced in control rats with exosome injection (n = 6). D Cartilage calcification of the TMJ was induced in control rats with exosome injection (n = 6). Scale bar = 100 μm. Green bar, calcified cartilage. Control, control group; Control + Exosome, control group with exosome injection; 8w, 8 weeks; 12w, 12 weeks. All data are presented as means ± SD. The data of compared groups were from the populations of Gaussian distribution and consistent with homogeneity of variance. Comparisons between the control and control + exosome group of the same timepoint were performed by Student’s t test. **P < 0.01, compared with the age-matched control group