Fig. 5: Micro-pellet tissue formation in vivo.

Analysis of micro-pellets formed from a BMSCs or b ACh implanted subcutaneously in NSG mice for 8 weeks in bovine defect models. Histological sections showed that BMSC and ACh micro-pellets appeared highly remodeled with reduced GAG staining (Toluidine blue), and only BMSCs formed bone-like tissues (scale bars, 500 μm). Micro-CT analysis confirmed the presence of mineralized tissue in BMSC micro-pellets, unlike ACh micro-pellets. Representative images are shown for 21 day in vitro differentiated tissues with TGF-β1 exposure for days indicated above the images. Surrounding bovine cartilage and bone tissue is marked with the letter “B” to indicate bovine tissue.