Figure 9: (a) Western blot analysis shows high expression of NF-κB at days 7 and 14, high expression of caspase-3 at day 7, and high expression of MMP-9 at day 14 in the SS electrode group. DLC-Cu-SS electrode group had high expressions of NF-κB and caspase-3 at day 7. (b) Densiometric analysis revealed the expression of NF-κB protein in SS electrode group was higher than that in DLC-Cu-SS electrode group at days 3 and 14. (c) Caspase-3 was highly expressed at day 7 for both groups. (d) The expression of MMP-9 in SS electrode group was higher than that in DLC-Cu-SS electrode group at day 14.