Fig. 2.

Radiographic assessment. a Representative radiographic images from the WJC transplanted group (TS group), degenerated control groups (FS and DS groups), and intact disc group (CS group) at 0, 4, 8, 12, and 24 weeks after the first operation. b %DHI was measured at each time point to quantify changes in disc height. Note: %DHI in the TS group was significantly higher than those of the discs in the FS and DS groups at 8, 12, 18, and 24 weeks after the first operation. Each data point represents the mean and standard deviation of 18 samples (*p <0.05, n = 18). %DHI changes in the disc height index