Figure 6.

(A–E) Fullerol prevents disk degeneration in a rabbit annulus-puncture model at 12 weeks. (A) GAG content; (B) MRI analysis; (C–E) Safranin O staining.

Notes: Annulus puncture was created with an 18 G needle and simultaneously intradiskally injected with either phosphate-buffered saline or fullerol (1 μg/disk). Twelve weeks later, lumbar spines were separated for MRI scan (B); disk tissues were collected for GAG assay (A); individual disks were decalcified, cut into 8 μm slices, and stained with Safranin O (C–E).

Abbreviations: GAG, glycosaminoglycan; DNA, deoxyribonucleic acid; EB, ectopic bone; MRI, magnetic resonance imaging.