Figure 2.Effect of aging and 753b treatment on mouse IVD histomorphology. Serial sections of three representative (A) male and (B) female mice stained with H&E and imaged at 100x and 200x magnification for MERCY scoring. Labels: Y, young 6m animals, OV, 22m animals in the vehicle treatment group, OB, 22m animals in the 753b treatment group. Note the decrease in cellularity, matrix organization, and tissue integrity (e.g., increase in fissuring) in the different tissues of the aged 22m animals versus the young 6m animals. Legend: Black arrows, NP/AF boundary; yellow arrowheads, loss of AF structure (serpentine lamellae widely spaced); red arrowheads, loss of NP matrix indicated by large empty space gaps; black arrowheads, NP fissures and clefts= Black arrowheads; green arrowheads, presence of severe microfracture and Schmorl’s node in the EP.
