Normalized optical density profiles in the vicinity of chondrocytes in the horizontal (transversal) direction from all analyzed locations in the superficial zone of cartilage: Lateral and medial femoral condyles and tibial plateaus and from the center of femoral groove and patella.

<p><b>Red, blue and black lines represent means of operated, contralateral and control groups, respectively. Shaded areas around the colored lines represents the confidence intervals (95% CI) and the two colored dashed lines statistical difference (<i>p</i> < 0.05) between the color-coded groups. Normalization was made to the both ends of the raw, un-normalized profiles and the optical density was analyzed from both sides of the cells separately.</b> ACLT, Anterior Cruciate Ligament Transection; C-L, Contralateral; CNTRL, Control; CI, Confidence Interval; PCM, Pericellular Matrix; ECM, Extracellular Matrix.