Figure 1

(a) Microscopic visualization (10 x objective) of calcification by Alizarin Red staining of interstitial cells isolated from healthy (n = 7) and calcified (n = 7) aortic valves and cultured for 21 days in standard growth medium (control) or osteogenic medium, as indicated. (b) Quantification of Alizarin Red staining by absorbance at 405 nm. Groups were compared by Wilcoxon matched-pairs signed rank test (control vs osteogenic medium+) or Kolmogorov-Smirnov test (healthy vs calcified). Lines in scatter plots represent the median.