Fig. 8.

Effect of suramin on nucleus pulposus (NP) matrix degeneration in an ex vivo rat NP model. a) The rat discs were dissected and incubated with vehicle (n = 5) or interleukin (IL)-1β (100 ng/ml) (n = 5), combined with or without suramin for seven days. Harvested discs were fixed in 4% paraformalin, and then decalcified followed by paraffin embedment. Serial disc sections of exactly 5 μm thickness were prepared for slides, and Safranin O-fast green (upper panel) and alcian blue (middle panel) staining was performed. Immunocytochemical analysis of IL-1β, IL-8, tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-3, and a disintegrin and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin motifs (ADAMTS)-4 in NP sections of discs (lower panel). b) Relative staining intensity in the disc NP matrix of mice that were treated with vehicle (n = 5) or IL-1β (100 ng/ml) (n = 5) combined with (n = 5) or without (n = 5) suramin for seven days. *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, ^***p < 0.001. c, control.