Fig. 7.

Inhibition of EZH2 ameliorates CEP and disc degeneration in rat IVDD model in vivo. (A) T2-weighted MRI of a rat tail with a needle-punctured disc (the white arrow) at 8 weeks postoperatively in each group (Sham + NC, IVDD + NC, IVDD + siEZH2). (B) The Pfirrmann MRI grade scores were acquired from three groups at week 8. (C) Representative HE and SO staining of disc and CEP in different group (Scale bar: 100 μM in general disc, Scale bar: 50 μM in CEP). (D, E) The quantitation of CEP thickness and chondrocyte/CEP area in different group. All experiments were performed three times, and data are reported as the mean ± SD. *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01.