Table 1.

Examples of methods used to prepare mouse IVD tissues (nonexhaustive)

Purpose of study	Separation AF/NP?	Method of dissection	Vertebral level	Enzymatic digestion	Ref.
Cell culture	Mixed, NP/IAF sample	Cut was made through the middle of the AF with a scalpel blade. Exposed NP and IAF were scooped out with a needle	Lumbar	0.01% collagenase	13
Cell culture	Yes	Identified and separated under microscope	Tail	0.1% pronase and 0.2% collagenase type 2	14
Cell culture	No	Microscopy was used to harvest IVD tissue completely from the end plates	Coccygeal	No	15
Cell culture	Yes	The disc was cut and bent, forcing the NP to protrude	Coccygeal	No	16
Gene expression	Yes	Dissected	Lumbar + caudal	No	17
Gene expression	Yes	NP was scraped off with a scalpel. AF was isolated by a blade under the stereo microscope. The CEP was shaved off with a scalpel	Lumbar + coccygeal	No	18
Gene expression	Yes	NP and AF from all lumbar IVD were resected separately	Lumbar	No	19
Gene expression	No	Full tissue examined together	Lumbar	No	20
Gene expression	No	Carefully dissected	Unknown	No	21
Gene expression	No	Separated from all other tissues	Tail/Lumbar	No	22
Gene expression	No	No method listed	Unknown	Unknown	23
Gene expression	No	Isolated by microdissection	Thoracic	No	24
Gene expression	No	NP isolated by microdissection	Lumbar + thoracic	No	25
Gene expression	Yes	NP and AF isolated by microdissection	Lumbar + thoracic	No	26