Isolation and Characterisation of Mesenchymal Stem Cells from Rat Bone Marrow and the Endosteal Niche: A Comparative Study

Figure 1

Haematoxylin and eosin staining of bone samples taken during isolation of cells from the long bones of rats. (a) Section through the femoral shaft prior to flushing of bone marrow demonstrated a large network of the Haversian and Volkmann canal system within the cortical lamellar bone. (b) Following removal of bone marrow, some cells lining the endosteal surface remain. (c) Cells are evident within the Haversian/Volkmann canal system associated with the perivascular system contained within. (d) Subsequent digestion of these bone chips with a relatively high concentration of collagenase leads to some loss of mineralised bone, opening up the canal system and associated lining cells.

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