Hypertrophy of Ligamentum Flavum in Lumbar Spine Stenosis Is Associated with Increased miR-155 Level
Figure 1
Histological analysis of LF specimens from LSS and LDH patients. (a) In LF from LDH patients, a large area was stained pink with a regular arrangement, indicating a normal, nonfibrotic condition. H&E staining ×40. (b) LF from LDH patients. H&E staining ×100. (c) In LF from LSS patients, elastic fibers were disorganized and focally lost, accompanied by a proliferation of collagen fibers. The elastic fibers also had low volumes and uneven diameters. H&E staining ×40. (d) LF from LSS patients. H&E staining ×100. (e) In LF from LDH patients, rich elastic fibers were regularly arrayed. In grade 0, <20% area of the LF was stained blue. Masson’s trichrome staining ×40. (f) LF from LDH patients. In grade 1, <40% area of the LF was stained blue. Masson’s trichrome staining ×40. (g) In LF from LSS patients, a large area was stained blue, indicating the presence of massive fibrosis. In grade 3, over 60% of the entire area was stained blue. Masson’s trichrome staining ×40. (h) In LF from LSS patients, in grade 4, over 80% of the entire area was stained blue. Masson’s trichrome staining ×40.
