Fig. 6

In vivo experiments. A The key steps to establish the intervertebral fusion model of rats. (a) The preparation of internal-fixation plates and scaffolds. (b) The skin and subcutaneous tissue were incised to expose the vertebral bodies. (c) The intervertebral disc was completely removed. (d) The cell-scaffold was inserted into the interbody space. (e) The vertebral bodies were fixed with plates and screws. (f) The incision was stitched with sutures. B Representative X-ray evaluation of intervertebral fusion in different groups taken 1, 4, 8, and 12 weeks after surgery. C The quantitative analysis of X-ray analyzed by Mimics software (n = 6). *p < 0.05 compared to the Blank group, **p < 0.01 compared to the Blank group, ^#p < 0.05 compared to the Scaffold group, ^##p < 0.01 compared to the Scaffold group, ^&p < 0.05 compared to the S+Cell group, ^&&p < 0.01 compared to the S+Cell group