Fig. 3
Magnetic resonance imaging parameters: a representative transverse T2-weighted images obtained from the MSC-injected and the contralateral superficial digital flexor tendons 3, 12 and 24 weeks after MSC injection; the respective tendon is indicated by the white line in the first upper image; note the lesions within the tendons, displaying high signal intensity at week 3, which is decreasing over time. Diagrams displaying mean (± 2 SD) values of b lesion volume determined based on MRI images in mm3 and c lesion signal intensity obtained from MRI images; star indicates significant difference between MSC-injected and contralateral tendons (p < 0.05); wk.: week post MSC injection; at week 24, instead of n = 6 tendons per group, only 2 tendons are shown in the MSC group and 3 in the contralateral control group, due to the fact that the remaining lesions were not detected anymore