Figure 1From: Intervertebral disc cells as competent phagocytes in vitro: implications for cell death in disc degenerationPhagocytosis of latex beads by intervertebral disc and other cell types. Bovine nucleus pulposus (NP) cells or J774 cells that ingested (a) 0 latex beads, (b) 1 to 4 beads, (c) 5 to 10 beads, and (d) more than 10 beads are shown (Jenner-Giemsa stain). Beads outside the cell membrane are clearly more birefringent and brighter (arrows) than those ingested, which have a dull appearance (arrowhead).Back to article page