Fig. 4

Experimental design and behavioral evaluation of combined hPRP/HA treatment in CFA-induced TMJ osteoarthritis. A Time course and experimental design. TMJ-OA was induced by two injections of CFA at 0 and 14th day, followed by combined hPRP/HA treatment in the 21st day. CFA and hPRP/HA were administered through the lateral puncture technique. B Body weight changes after treatment with hPRP/HA. C Representative photographs demonstrate that the head width of rats is increased after receiving CFA induction. Both the synovium and disc became thickened, opaque, and head width increased in the CFA-induced TMJ-OA group (marked in black circle) that recovered after treatment in hPRP/HA group. Each group n = 3 rats. *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, and ***p < 0.001, the results are shown as mean ± SD for three replicates