Journal: Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences: CMLS
Article Title: DDRGK1 preserves intervertebral disc development through ufmylation
doi: 10.1007/s00018-025-06034-8
Figure Lengend Snippet: Ddrgk1 cKO mice exhibited severe degenerative features in intervertebral discs in later developmental phase. (A) Schematic diagram of establishment for the late stage of intervertebral disc development in WT and Ddrgk1 cKO mice. Tamoxifen was administered intraperitoneally at 1 month of age, at 75 mg/kg daily for 5 consecutive days. Mice were harvested at 6 months old. (B-D) (B) Gross observation images, (C) dorsoventral X-ray images and (D) statistical comparison of body length of 6-month-old WT and Ddrgk1 cKO mice. n = 8. (E) Focused X-ray images of the lumbar spine region. T12 represents the 12th thoracic vertebra. L1-L6 represent the 1 st to 6th lumbar vertebrae. (F) Statistical comparison of the length from L1 to L6. n = 8. (G) Safranin O-Fast Green staining of partial lumbar segment of the WT and Ddrgk1 cKO mice at 6 months of age. Black arrows in each image are used to indicate the approximate height of vertebrae. Scale bar: 600 μm. (H-J) Statistical analysis of (H) disc height, (I) vertebral height and (J) disc height index of WT and Ddrgk1 cKO mice at 6 months. n = 6. (K) Representative Safranin O-Fast Green staining images of lumbar disc from 6-month-old WT or Ddrgk1 cKO mice. The leftmost image shows the general view of the intervertebral disc region, where the scale bar represents 300 μm. Yellow labels 1–3 correspond to the magnified images of the central region of superior cartilage endplate, peripheral region of superior cartilage endplate and central nucleus pulposus, where the scale bar represents 50 μm. (L-O) Statistical analysis of (L) cartilage endplate thickness, (M) proportion of cartilage tissue in cartilage endplate, (N) cartilage endplate degeneration score and (O) intervertebral disc degeneration score of WT and Ddrgk1 cKO mice at 6 months old. n = 6. Data are represented as mean ± SD. * p < 0.05, ** p < 0.01, *** p < 0.001, **** p < 0.0001, ns represents no statistical difference between data.
Article Snippet: Safranin O-Fast Green Staining Reagent For Bone Tissue , Servicebio , Wuhan, Hubei, China , Cat# G1053.
Techniques: Comparison, Staining