Fig. 6

B2UKX5 Supplementation Alleviates IVDD. a Schematic of the experimental protocol for B2UKX5 treatment in tail needle puncture mice. b Representative T2-weighted MRI images of the C8-9 caudal spine. Scale bar: 1 mm. c Statistical analysis of Pfirrmann grading for the C8-9 caudal segment. n = 8 per group. Representative DR images (d) and micro-CT 3D reconstruction images (e) of the caudal spine. Scale bar: 1 mm. f DHI after 8 weeks of needle puncture at the C8-9 caudal segment. n = 8 per group. Representative H&E (g) and SO/FG (h) stained images showing the macroscopic morphology of the disc, NP, and AF in the C8-9 segment. Scale bars: 200 μm (Disc) or 50 μm (NP, AF). i Histological scores for the C8-9 segment. n = 8 per group. j Schematic of the experimental protocol for B2UKX5 treatment in naturally aging mice. k Representative T2-weighted MRI images of the lumbar spine in mice following B2UKX5 treatment. Scale bar: 1 mm. l Statistical analysis of the average Pfirrmann grade in the L1-S1 lumbar disc segments. n = 10–16 per group. m Representative micro-CT 3D reconstruction images of the L5-6 lumbar disc segments. Scale bar: 1 mm. n Statistical analysis of the mean DHI in the L2-6 lumbar disc segments. n = 8–9 per group. Representative images of H&E staining (o) and SO/FG staining (p) showing the macroscopic morphology of intervertebral discs (Disc), nucleus pulposus (NP), annulus fibrosus (AF), and endplate (EP) in the L4-5 lumbar disc segment. Scale bars: 200 μm (Disc) or 50 μm (NP, AF, EP). q Histological scores for each lumbar segment (L2-6). n = 8–9 per group. r Representative IF images showing expression of COL2, ACAN, and MMP13 in the L5-6 lumbar intervertebral disc segment. Scale bar: 200 μm. s Quantitative analysis of IF staining for COL2, ACAN, and MMP13. n = 8–9 per group. Data are presented as mean ± SD. Statistical significance was assessed by one-way ANOVA followed by Bonferroni post hoc test