DL-3-N-Butylphthalide Promotes Cartilage Extracellular Matrix Synthesis and Inhibits Osteoarthritis Development by Regulating FoxO3a

Figure 2

NBP promoted ECM anabolism in OA cartilage explants. (a) Proteoglycan content was measured by the safranin O-fast green staining after incubation with NBP for 2 w (scale bar, 100 μm). (b) COLII content was measured by immunohistochemistry staining (scale bar, 100 μm). (c) Average optical density values of proteoglycan content determined by safranin O-fast green staining. (d, e) GAG and DNA content per wet weight were assessed after NBP (0.1 μM) treatment for 2 w. (f–i) The mRNA levels of COL2A1, ACAN, PRG4, and SOX9 were detected using qRT-PCR after NBP (0.1 μM) treatment for 2 w. All data are expressed as the (SD). .