Figure 2

Macroscopic findings in the femur of the knee joint 10 weeks after OA model preparation. a (group C): Cartilage defects are observed on both the medial and lateral sides. These extend to the subchondral bone and range across the entire weight-bearing area. b (group H): Irregularity of the cartilage surface is apparent on both medial and lateral sides in the photo. A cartilage defect extending to the subchondral bone can be seen in some sections. c, d (group M1, moon jellyfish extract; group M2, Nomura's jellyfish extract, respectively): As with group C, a cartilage defect extending to the subchondral bone is observed. No difference is apparent in the range of the defect. e, f (group MH1, moon jellyfish extract; group MH2, Nomura's jellyfish extract, respectively): Irregularity of the cartilage surface is apparent on the medial side in the photo. No exposure of the subchondral bone is observed and the range of the defect is very limited. No differences are seen in the M or MH groups where the qniumucin had been extracted from the two different species of jellyfish. Arrowheads indicate areas of exposed subchondral bone.