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Fig. 4 | BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders

Fig. 4

From: The protective role of autophagy in experimental osteoarthritis, and the therapeutic effects of Torin 1 on osteoarthritis by activating autophagy

Fig. 4

TEM observation and autophagosomes evaluation. In the control group, chondrocytes were located in the lacunae and contained round nuclei with discontinuous nuclear membranes, some vesicles were observed in the cytoplasm. In the collagenase-injected group, typical condensed chondrocytes with several autophagic vacuoles were observed, the number of autophagosomes in collagenase treated chondrocytes was less than the controls, and the nuclei of chondrocytes were disappeared. In the Torin 1-treated group, autophagy became more pronounced and much more autophagosomes were observed in chondrocytes. Meanwhile, abundant rough endoplasmic reticulum (RER) and a few other organelles were found in the cytoplasm. Moreover, the nuclei of chondrocytes were present, and condensed chromatin produced a convoluted pattern. In the 3-MA-treated group, the contents in chondrocytes had been substantially degraded. Disappeared nuclei, a number of cell debris and a large autophagosome were observed. (Bar, 1 μm)

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