Programmed NP Cell Death Induced by Mitochondrial ROS in a One-Strike Loading Disc Degeneration Organ Culture Model

Figure 4

MS induced programmed NP cell death via mitochondrial ROS. (a–f) Necroptosis- and apoptosis-related gene expression in NP tissue was examined using RT-qPCR. The gene expression levels in the MS group and the MitoQ + MS group are expressed relative to those in the CON group at 12 hours after MS. The expression levels in the MS 7-day group were similar to those in the CON 7-day group. . (g–j) Necroptosis- and apoptosis-related markers in NP tissue were examined using immunohistochemical staining. Scale bars, 50 μm and 5 μm (inset). . (k, l) Apoptotic NP cells were examined using TUNEL staining, and the percentage of positive cells was quantified. Scale bars, 50 μm. . (m) Quantification analysis of the Bax/Bcl-2 immunohistochemical staining ratio. The data are expressed as the . and .

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