Research Paper Volume 16, Issue 13 pp 10868—10881
Needle-scalpel therapy inhibits the apoptosis of nucleus pulposus cells via the SDF-1/CXCR4 axis in a rat degenerative cervical intervertebral disc model
Figure 3. The therapy of Ns affected apoptosis of nucleus pulposus cells mediated by specifically regulating SDF-1/CXCR4 signal axis in the intervertebral disc of CS rats. (A) Western blot assay of SDF-1/CXCR4, Bcl-2/Bax and type II collagen in different groups 4 weeks after intervening. (B) Real-time PCR analysis of SDF-1/CXCR4, Bcl-2/Bax and type II collagen in different groups 4 weeks after intervening. (C) Immunohistochemical staining and optical density value of SDF-1/CXCR4, Bcl-2/Bax and type II collagen in different groups 4 weeks after intervening. (D) TUNEL staining to confirm the effect of 4 weeks of intervention on apoptosis of nucleus pulposus cells in different groups. Note: scale bar = 5 um, values are means ± SEMs, n = 5 per group, *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01.