*2.11. Histomorphometric Analysis*

The intensities of X-Gal staining and the percentages of SOX9+, TGF-β+, and type-II+/-I+/-X<sup>+</sup> collagen cells (SOX9-, TGF-β-, and type-II/-I/-X collagen-stained cells to the total cell numbers) were measured at three random sites standardized for their surface using the SIS analySIS program (Olympus) and Adobe Photoshop (Adobe Systems, Unterschleissheim, Germany) [25,45].
