Fig. 12

Overexpression of miR-26b-3p suppressed the endochondral ossification of femur growth plate in the rats. A–D RUNX2, type X collagen, AKAP2, OCN, and OPN, the hallmark genes of differentiation and endochondral ossification, were downregulated. E Safranin O-fast green staining showed that the height of the femoral growth plates in the miR-26b-3p–overexpressed group was lesser than that in the NC group. F, G BrdU labeling demonstrated that the positive markers of the femoral growth plate proliferating regions in the miR-26b-3p–overexpressed group were lower than those in the NC group. H, I Calcein experiment confirmed that the new osteogenesis rate of growth plate chondrocytes in the miR-26b-3p–overexpressed group decreased significantly. The data are presented as the mean ± SD. n = 3. Two groups were compared using T-test. *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, ***P < 0.001 vs. control