Figure 2

Histological and immunehistochemical staining of AF cells cultured in 3D scaffolds. At day 21, alcian blue staining (A) was weak and showed marginal deposition of proteoglycans (A, black arrowhead), but there was no pronounced staining of the matrix surrounding AF cells (A, double arrowhead). Safranin O staining showed no proteoglycans but a weak staining of a collagenous matrix (B, black arrowhead). Absorbable scaffold fibers took the staining dye and appeared fragmented as a sign of degradation (A, B, black arrows). AF cells stained positively for type I collagens (C, black arrowheads), while staining for type II collagens were negative (D).