Effect of Static Load on the Nucleus Pulposus of Rabbit Intervertebral Disc Motion Segment in an Organ Culture

Figure 2

AB/PAS staining of proteoglycans in the NP at each time point (original magnification, 200). (a) Fresh tissue; (b, c, d) AB/PAS staining of tissues under static load on days 3, 7, and 14, respectively. The staining within the matrix and in the immediate pericellular areas indicated the presence of proteoglycans (a, arrows). Under static load, by 7 days (c), the proteoglycan content decreased (arrow) and was unevenly distributed (arrowheads). By 14 days (d), the number of cells in the NP obviously decreased (arrowheads). AB/PAS: Alcian blue and periodic acid-Schiff; NP: nucleus pulposus.

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