Fig. 5

OARSI Score. Representative photomicrographs of toluidine blue-stained sections from medial compartments for OARSI scoring. (A) Irregular articular surface with mild fibrillation and proteoglycan loss is present in the superficial zone of the tibia from the knee containing the native IFP/SC. (B) The contralateral knee from the same animal exhibits a smooth cartilage surface and very mild proteoglycan loss. (C) OARSI whole joint OA score confirmed a significant statistical difference in cartilage and proteoglycan change. Contributions to whole joint OARSI score components included the lateral compartment (D) OARSI score, which was not significantly different, and medial compartment (E) mean OARSI histologic score, which was significantly different. Contributions to the medial compartment included articular cartilage structure (F), proteoglycan content (G), and cellularity (H). More specifically, medial tibia OARSI score of articular cartilage surface (I), proteoglycan content (J), and cellularity (K) contributed to the significant decrease in histolopathology by the FCT when compared to the IFP/SC. Normally distributed data with similar variance were compared using parametric t test^†. Data with non-Gaussian distribution were compared using non-parametric Wilcoxon^× matched – pairs signed rank test. **P<0.005 and *P<0.05