Figure 2

Effect of different osmolarity irrigation solutions on cell viability and cell death. Using laser confocal microscopy to observe the survival of the chondrocytes, red stands for dead cells, green stands for living cells (a–d) saline; (e–h) balanced salt; (a, e) 180 mOsm/L; (b, f) 280 mOsm/L; (c, g) 380 mOsm/L; and (d, h) 580 mOsm/L. Effects of different osmolarity irrigation solutions on cell death in the superficial or deep zone. (i, k) Saline; (j, l) balanced salt; (i, j) superficial zone; and (k, l) deep zone (n = 6 for each osmolarity; ANOVA tests for superficial zone: saline: P = 0.001; balanced salt: P = 0.001; deep zone: saline: P = 0.93; balanced salt: P = 0.92).