Fig. 4From: The presence and degradation of nerve fibers in articular cartilage of neonatal ratsImmunofluorescence of the articular cartilage. The green fluorescence represents neuropeptide Y (NPY), and the red fluorescence represents substance P (SP). A1–4 SP and NPY densely existed in the plasma of the chondrocytes in 1-day postnatal rats. Around the chondrocytes, no NPY and SP were found. B1–4, C1–4 SP and NPY densely existed in the perichondrium, cartilage canals and the plasma of the chondrocytes in 5-day and 10-day postnatal rats. There are also NPY and SP expression in the matrix around the chondrocytes in the 5-day and 10-day rats (blue arrows)Back to article page