Figure 1From: Histological analysis of surgical lumbar intervertebral disc tissue provides evidence for an association between disc degeneration and increased body mass indexHistomorphological signs for disc degeneration. a increase of cell density (chondrocyte proliferation) with moderate clones of chondrocytes (arrows) in the NP of a 42 years old patient (score 4). b severe occurrence of granular changes (arrows) in the NP of a 67 years old patient (score 3). c structural alterations with tears and clefts (arrows) in the AF of a 54 years old patient (score 3). d severe increase in acid mucopolysaccharides (mucous degeneration) with dark blue staining areas around clones of chondrocytes (arrows) in the NP of a 77 years old patient. (a-c H&E stain; d Alcian blue-PAS stain/a-d scale bar 100 μm).Back to article page