Figure 5
From: Action of fibroblast growth factor-2 on the intervertebral disc
Fibroblast growth factor 2 inhibits proteoglycan synthesis in the cell-associated matrix. (a) Nucleus pulposus cells and (b) annulus fibrosus cells isolated from bovine intervertebral disc were cultured for 7 days in 1.2% alginate in serum-free medium with mini-insulin–transferrin–selenium (control) or the control medium plus 1 and 10 ng/ml fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF2), 1 ng/ml IL-1β, or 100 ng/ml BMP7. Proteoglycan synthesis was measured during the last 4 hours of culture using [35S]-sulfate incorporation and was normalized to cell numbers by DNA assay. Data expressed as a percentage of control for triplicate samples. Error bars represent the triplicate analysis of three pooled donors.