Fig. 4

Typical macroscopic cartilage lesions among the groups in the four regions for the advanced stage of OA. The DHEA 16 w group exhibited significantly lower severity grades of macroscopic cartilage lesions in the LFC and LTP compartments compared with those observed in the NS 16 w group (P < 0.05); however, the between-group difference in the macroscopic scores for the MFC and MTP were not significant (P > 0.05). a-c represents the medial femoral condyles (MFC) of different groups (a: Sham, 16 w; b: ACLT+ DHEA, 16 w; c: ACLT + NS, 16 w). d-f represents the lateral femoral condyles (LFC) of different groups (d: Sham, 16 w; e: ACLT+ DHEA, 16 w; f: ACLT + NS, 16 w). g-i represents the medial tibial plateaus (MTP) of different groups (g: Sham, 16 w; h: ACLT+ DHEA, 16 w; i: ACLT + NS, 16 w). j-l represents the medial tibial plateaus (LTP) of different groups (j: Sham, 16 w; k: ACLT+ DHEA, 16 w; l: ACLT + NS, 16 w)