Figure 3
From: In vivo experimental intervertebral disc degeneration induced by bleomycin in the rhesus monkey
Hematoxylin and eosin (H&E), masson trichrome and safranin O staining for NP and AF. (A)-(C) The annulus fibrosus showed normal organization of fibrocartilage lamellae, and the nucleus pulposus contained abundant cells and sounded by large zones of acellular matrix in the control group. (D)-(F) In the bleomycin group, the nucleus pulposus comprised relatively few cells and less proteoglycans, combined with less organized fibrocartilage lamellae and a wavy arrangement of collagen fibers, relative to the control group. Black arrows indicate notochordal cells based on morphology.