Figure 5

Histological study found enhanced osteogenesis and angiogenesis in Ihh⁺MSCs/hydroxyapatite group. Typical images at 4 weeks after implantation of MSCs/hydroxyapatite complex (a and a’), EGFP⁺ MSCs/hydroxyapatite complex (b and b’), and EGFP⁺Ihh⁺ MSCs/hydroxyapatite complex (c and c’) show the histological features adjacent to the implantation sites in different groups. Low power images are shown in (a), (b), and (c), and (a’), (b’), (c’) are the higher power images of boxed area from (a), (b), and (c), respectively. Note that only (c) and (c’) shows the typical histological features of newly formed trabeculae and nascent angiogenesis. Scale bars = 100 μm.