Research Paper Volume 16, Issue 12 pp 10216—10238
Oxidative stress-induced EGR1 upregulation promotes NR4A3-mediated nucleus pulposus cells apoptosis in intervertebral disc degeneration
Figure 8. EGR1 siRNA alleviates the progression of IVDD in the AFP-treated rat model. (A) The protein expression of EGR1 in the IVDD rat model was determined by western blotting. (B) Quantitative analysis of EGR1 levels. (C) EGR1 mRNA expression in the IVDD rat model was examined by qRT-PCR. (D) X-ray images of the different groups before and 4 weeks after puncture. (E) Changes in intervertebral disc height were evaluated. (F, G) Representative images of HE and safranin-O staining in the four groups. (H) Histological scores were calculated. (I) Immunohistochemical staining of EGR1, aggrecan, and collagen II. ***p < 0.001, ****p < 0.0001.