Research Paper Volume 11, Issue 18 pp 7961—7977

Figure 6. Kin ameliorates IDD in a rat model. (A, B) The extent of IDD in the punctured discs in each group was evaluated by T2-weighted MRI and Pfirrmann grading at four weeks (white arrows). (C, D) The sections of each disc were stained with Safranin O-fast green and evaluated by the histological score based on the morphology of discs; scale bar: 500 μm. (E, F) The representative images of immunofluorescence staining of Nrf2 and p16 in the rat disc samples; scale bar: 100 μm. (G) The quantification of positive cells in the immunofluorescence staining of Nrf2 and p16. (H). The western blotting and quantitative protein levels of Nrf2, C-caspase3 and p16 in the NP samples of rats. All data are expressed as mean ± SD of seven rats per group.