Figure 2
From: An organ culture system to model early degenerative changes of the intervertebral disc
Collagen gene expression is suppressed in organ culture model of disc degeneration. Expression of important disc matrix collagens decreases with tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin-1beta, and limited nutrition. Expression of type 1 collagen (COL1) and type 2 collagen (COL 2) is significantly suppressed in (A) nucleus pulposus (NP) and (B) annulus fibrosus (AF) tissues of treated discs at 3 and 10 days. Note a significant decrease in type 6 collagen (COL 6) after the treatment in (C) NP and (D) AF. Type 9 collagen (COL 9) expression is decreased only in AF after 10 days of treatment (C,D). Results are shown as the mean ± standard error for three independent experiments (n = 6 discs/group per experiment). *P <0.05. Ctr., control group; Exp, experimental group.