Figure 2: Multiscale analyses of the annulus fibrosus (AF) from Mkx−/− mice. | Nature Communications

Figure 2: Multiscale analyses of the annulus fibrosus (AF) from Mkx−/− mice.

From: Mohawk promotes the maintenance and regeneration of the outer annulus fibrosus of intervertebral discs

Figure 2

(a) Haematoxylin–eosin staining of IVDs of 10-week-old Mkx+/+ and Mkx−/− mice. Black arrow, width of the AF. Scale bars, 300 μm. (b) Width of the AF from 10-week-old Mkx+/+ versus Mkx−/− mice. For Mkx+/+, mean width=246.9 μm (s.d.=23.04 μm). For Mkx−/−, mean width=157.5 μm (s.d.=21.16 μm). (c) Images of transmission electron microscopy (left column) and scanning electron microscopy (right column) of the OAF of 10-week-old Mkx+/+ and Mkx−/− mice. Scale bars, 200 nm. (d) Histogram of the diameter of collagen fibrils from 10-week-old Mkx+/+ and Mkx−/− mice. Blue bar, Mkx−/−; red bar, Mkx+/+. (e) The calculated mean of the diameter of 100 collagen fibrils from 10-week-old Mkx+/+ and Mkx−/− mice. For Mkx+/+, mean diameter=72.73 nm (s.d.=14.5 nm). For Mkx−/−, mean diameter=53.99 nm (s.d.=10.31 nm). Error bars represent the s.d. ***P<0.001. Statistical differences were assessed with Student’s t-test.

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