Figure 1.

Surgical annulus fibrosus defects created in rat tail. A, Representative pictures taken of annulus fibrosus cells stained with PKH26, just prior to seeding on cell sheet cultureware. B, Representative overview of temporal monolayer detachment when subjected to room temperature. Culture of the annulus fibrosus cells on thermoresponsive polymer forms a typical cell sheet, which when subjected to room temperature starts to detach, fold, and thereafter forming a pellet, respectively. C, Surgery was performed after avascularizition of rat's tail by applying rubber bands at the tail base. Subsequently, Cy 7/8, 8/9, and 9/10 intervertebral discs were exposed in each animal. A 1 × 1 mm defect was created implementing a microscope. D, Picture of AF cell sheet pellet held by forceps just prior to transplantation