Research Paper Volume 14, Issue 15 pp 5966—5983

Figure 1. Analysis of Mankin scores in joints from BL/6^C57 and conplastic (BL/6^NZB) mice during the aging process. (A) Representative image of 90-weeks-old BL/6^C57 mice. (C) Quantification of total Mankin score of the joint sections from BL/6^C57 mice. (B) Representative image of 90-weeks-old conplastic (BL/6^NZB) mice. (D) Quantification of total Mankin score of the joint sections from conplastic (BL/6^NZB) mice. Total Mankin score was obtained from the scores of all quadrants of the joint (medial tibial plateau, medial femoral condyle, lateral tibial plateau, and lateral femoral condyle) that were scored separately and averaged. Three criteria were selected for histological assessment of each quadrant: structure, cellularity, and matrix staining. Graphs represent means ± SEM; n=5 in BL/6^C57 and conplastic (BL/6^NZB) mice at 25 weeks; n=6 in BL/6^C57 and BL/6^NZB at 75 weeks; n=6 in BL/6^C57 and n=7 in BL/6^NZB at 90 weeks. **p<0.01; ***p<0.001; ns=not significant by non-parametric Mann-Whitney test. (E) Representative images from joint sections of BL/6^C57 and conplastic (BL/6^NZB) mice at 25 weeks of age, stained with Hematoxylin-Eosin and Safranin O/Fast Green. (F) Quantification of total Mankin score of the joint sections from BL/6^C57 vs. conplastic (BL/6^NZB) mice at 25 weeks. (G) Representative images from joint sections of BL/6^C57 and conplastic (BL/6^NZB) mice at 75 weeks of age, stained with Hematoxylin-Eosin and Safranin O/Fast Green. (H) Quantification of total Mankin score of the joint sections from BL/6^C57 vs. conplastic (BL/6^NZB) mice at 75 weeks. (I) Representative images from joint sections of BL/6^C57 and conplastic (BL/6^NZB) mice at 90 weeks of age, stained with Hematoxylin-Eosin and Safranin O/Fast Green. (J) Quantification of total Mankin score of the joint sections from BL/6^C57 vs. conplastic (BL/6^NZB) mice at 90 weeks. Original magnification: 4×. Scale bar, 500 μm. Graphs represent means ± SEM; n=5 in BL/6^C57 and conplastic (BL/6^NZB) mice at 25 weeks; n=6 in BL/6^C57 and conplastic (BL/6^NZB) mice at 75 weeks; n=6 in BL/6^C57 and n=7 in conplastic (BL/6^NZB) mice at 90 weeks. *p<0.05; **p<0.01 vs. BL/6^C57 by non-parametric Mann-Whitney test.