Fig. 3
Chondrocyte viability in osteochondral samples, as analyzed by LIVE/DEAD® fluorescence staining. a Confocal microscopy images showing abundance of live cells (green) in fresh cartilage and increased population of dead cells (red) after 14 and 28 days of storage in different conditions. Scale bar = 100 μm. b Chondrocyte viability was calculated as a percentage of live cells to the total number of cells (mean ± standard deviation). *p ≤ 0.001 (fresh versus all other groups after 14 and 28 days); **p < 0.001; ***p = 0.003; # p ≤ 0.001(−70 °C group versus all other groups after 28 days)