Skip to main content
. 2017 May 23;8(34):57800–57812. doi: 10.18632/oncotarget.18101

Figure 4. Summary of the signal basis underlying the generation and exhaustion of notochord vacuoles.

Figure 4

Notochord vacuolation is a highly coordinated and orchestrated process that requires vacuolating specification from dorsal organizer cells, intact convergent extension, formation of notochord sheath, as well as sufficient post-Golgi trafficking within the notochord cells themselves. After squeezing into the IVD, the vacuolated notochord NP cells can be exhausted by inferior cell viability and a chronic process of de-vacuolation, which may result from the increased mechanical stress and avascular nature of postnatal IVD.