Quantitative results of immunohistochemistry staining for the expression of BMP2, OCN, BMP7, Col I and RUNX2.

<p>Osteocalcin (OCN), bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP2), bone morphogenetic protein 7 (BMP7), Type I collagen (Col I) and Runt-related transcription factor 2 (RUNX2). *P<0.05 compared with control group. AOD, average optical density.</p

Histology of hematoxylin and eosin (HE) and Masson trichrome staining in epiphysis to metaphysis regions of specimens with PLGA-Zol and control treatment.

<p>Histology of hematoxylin and eosin (HE) and Masson trichrome staining in epiphysis to metaphysis regions of specimens with PLGA-Zol and control treatment.</p

Histology of the implantation site with PLGA-30 µg Zol treatment.

<p>(A, B) Hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining; (C, D) Masson trichrome staining.</p

Intraoperative photographs and two-dimensional slices of micro-CT images representing the distal femur.

<p>(A) drilling a tunnel (2×4 mm diameter) in the medial femoral condyle along the transepicondylar axis; (B) implantation the PLGA-Zol cylinder; (C) orientation of two-dimensional slice indicated by the yellow line; (D) polylactide acid-glycolic acid copolymer (PLGA) implantation, 0 µg Zol; (E) PLGA-zoledronate (PLGA-Zol), 3 µg Zol; (F) PLGA-Zol, 30 µg Zol; and (G) PLGA-Zol, 300 µg Zol. Stars indicated the site of implantation and arrows indicated where the significant changes happened.</p

Quantitative analysis of the number of osteoclasts and osteoblasts.

<p>(A) number of osteoclasts per unit tissue area, N.Oc/T.A(/mm²); (B) number of osteoblasts per unit tissue area, N.Ob/T.A(/mm²) *P<0.05 compared with control group.</p

Immunohistochemistry of bone trabecular near the distal femoral epiphyseal plate.

<p>BMP2, OCN, BMP7, Col I and RUNX2 were expression in the bone matrix of newly formed trabecula. Osteocalcin (OCN), bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP2), bone morphogenetic protein 7 (BMP7), Type I collagen (Col I) and Runt-related transcription factor 2 (RUNX2).</p