Fig. 5

Histological analysis to assess disc regeneration in a rabbit model following transplantation. a Comparison of disc regeneration as assessed by histological staining (Masson’s trichrome, Alcian blue staining, and immunostaining with an anti-collagen II antibody). b Histological scores to evaluate disc degeneration show that disc regeneration is higher in the MSC-highTR/XHA group than in the other groups. **p <0.01, *p <0.05 compared with the MSC-highTR/HA group. ALK5 activin-like kinase receptor 5, MSC-highTR Wharton’s Jelly-derived mesenchymal stem cells highly expressing TβRI/ALK5 and TβRII, MSC-lowTR Wharton’s Jelly-derived mesenchymal stem cells lowly expressing TβRI/ALK5 and TβRII, TβR transforming growth factor-beta receptor, XHA cross-linked hyaluronic acid