Figure 2

CNP induces expansion of the hypertrophic zone. Hematoxylin and Eosin staining of tibia sections after six days of culture with or without CNP (1 μM) showed differences in growth plate architecture, primarily in the hypertrophic zone. CNP treatment results in a vastly expanded hypertrophic zone (A; hypertrophic zones indicated by brackets). Magnification of cells in the hypertrophic zone (boxes from A) shows that individual chondrocytes are larger in CNP-treated tibiae (B).