Fig. 1: ICF stimulated osteogenic differentiation in hPDLs.

Cells were exposed to CCF or ICF in serum-free media for 24 h and subsequently maintained in osteogenic medium (a). In the control condition, cells were cultured in serum-free culture medium for 24 h without mechanical loading and further maintained in osteogenic medium (a). Mineral deposition shown by alizarin red s staining at 14 and 21 days after osteogenic induction (b). The relative absorbance of the solubilized alizarin red dye was demonstrated (c). After pretreating cells with the CCF (d) or ICF (e), osteogenic marker gene expression was evaluated compared with the unloaded control using real-time polymerase chain reaction at 3 and 7 days after osteogenic induction. Bars indicate a significant difference between conditions