Fig. 5

MenSCs embedded in collagen gel up-regulated TGF-β and IGF-I expression in degenerated disc following discectomy. (A): Immunohistochemical examination of TGF-β and IGF-I. (B): Percentages of TGF-β and IGF-I positive cells relative to total cells in degenerated disc after discectomy. Images are representative of seven replicates. Scale bar = 50 μm; Values are presented as mean ± SEM. * P < 0.05, ** P < 0.01, *** P < 0.001. MenSCs, menstrual blood-derived mesenchymal stem cells, TGF-β, transforming growth factor-β. IGF-I, insulin-like growth factor-I