Staying Connected: Structural Integration at the Intervertebral Disc-vertebra Interface of Human Lumbar Spines

Overview

Journal Eur Spine J

Specialty Orthopedics

Date 2016 Apr 17

PMID 27084189

Citations 16

Authors

Sharon Brown

Samantha Rodrigues

Christopher Sharp

Kelly Wade

Neil Broom

Iain W McCall

Sally Roberts

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Purpose: To investigate the microscopic fibrous integration between the intervertebral disc, cartilage endplates and vertebral endplates in human lumbar spines of varying degrees of degeneration using differential interference contrast (DIC) optics. Weakness at these junctions is considered to be an important factor in the aetiology of disc herniations.

Methods: Magnetic resonance images (MRIs) of cadaveric lumbar spines were graded for degeneration and motion segments from a range of degenerative grades isolated and bisected sagittally. Following fixation and decalcification, these were cut into segments containing anterior or posterior annulus fibrosus or nucleus pulposus. The segments were cryo-sectioned and sections visualised using both standard light and DIC microscopy.

Results: Detachment at the interface between the disc and vertebrae increased with greater degenerative grade (from 1.9 % in Grade I to 28 % in Grade V), especially at the boundary between the cartilage and vertebral endplates. DIC microscopy revealed the fibrous organisation at the IVD-cartilage endplate interface with structural features, such as annular lamellae branching and nodal insertions in the nucleus pulposus region; these have been previously observed in ovine spines, but were less uniform in humans. Structural integrity of the IVD and cartilage endplate was also lost with increasing degeneration.

Conclusions: This preliminary study shows that microscopic structural features may act to maintain attachment between the IVD and CEP in the human spine. Loss of structural integrity in this region may destabilise the spine, possibly altering the mechanical environment of the cells in the disc and so potentially contribute to the aetiopathogenesis of IVD degeneration.

Citing Articles

Dysregulated lipid metabolism and intervertebral disc degeneration: the important role of ox-LDL/LOX-1 in endplate chondrocyte senescence and calcification.

Bing T, Shanlin X, Jisheng W, Jie H, Ruichao C, Zhiwei Z Mol Med. 2024; 30(1):117.

PMID: 39123116 PMC: 11311918. DOI: 10.1186/s10020-024-00887-8.

Diverse and multifunctional roles for perlecan () in repair of the intervertebral disc.

Melrose J, Guilak F JOR Spine. 2024; 7(3):e1362.

PMID: 39081381 PMC: 11286675. DOI: 10.1002/jsp2.1362.

Three-dimensional fiber patterning in the annulus fibrosus can be derived from vertebral endplate topography.

Raza A, Howell G, Michalek A JOR Spine. 2024; 7(3):e1361.

PMID: 39071862 PMC: 11272948. DOI: 10.1002/jsp2.1361.

Molecular Basic of Pharmacotherapy of Cytokine Imbalance as a Component of Intervertebral Disc Degeneration Treatment.

Shnayder N, Ashkhotov A, Trefilova V, Nurgaliev Z, Novitsky M, Petrova M Int J Mol Sci. 2023; 24(9).

PMID: 37175399 PMC: 10178334. DOI: 10.3390/ijms24097692.

Cytokine Imbalance as a Biomarker of Intervertebral Disk Degeneration.

Shnayder N, Ashhotov A, Trefilova V, Nurgaliev Z, Novitsky M, Vaiman E Int J Mol Sci. 2023; 24(3).

PMID: 36768679 PMC: 9917299. DOI: 10.3390/ijms24032360.

References

Corsi A, De Maio F, Mancini F, Ippolito E, Riminucci M, Bianco P . Notochordal inclusions in the vertebral bone marrow. J Bone Miner Res. 2007; 23(4):572-5. DOI: 10.1359/jbmr.071204. View

Moon S, Yoder J, Wright A, Smith L, Vresilovic E, Elliott D . Evaluation of intervertebral disc cartilaginous endplate structure using magnetic resonance imaging. Eur Spine J. 2013; 22(8):1820-8. PMC: 3731490. DOI: 10.1007/s00586-013-2798-1. View

Broberg K . On the mechanical behaviour of intervertebral discs. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 1983; 8(2):151-65. DOI: 10.1097/00007632-198303000-00006. View

Yu J, Schollum M, Wade K, Broom N, Urban J . ISSLS Prize Winner: A Detailed Examination of the Elastic Network Leads to a New Understanding of Annulus Fibrosus Organization. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2015; 40(15):1149-57. DOI: 10.1097/BRS.0000000000000943. View

Nosikova Y, Santerre J, Grynpas M, GIBSON G, Kandel R . Characterization of the annulus fibrosus-vertebral body interface: identification of new structural features. J Anat. 2012; 221(6):577-89. PMC: 3512281. DOI: 10.1111/j.1469-7580.2012.01537.x. View

Johnson E, Chetty K, Moore I, Stewart A, Jones W . The distribution and arrangement of elastic fibres in the intervertebral disc of the adult human. J Anat. 1982; 135(Pt 2):301-9. PMC: 1168235. View

Wade K, Robertson P, Broom N . On the extent and nature of nucleus-annulus integration. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2012; 37(21):1826-33. DOI: 10.1097/BRS.0b013e3182637f04. View

Yu J, Winlove P, Roberts S, Urban J . Elastic fibre organization in the intervertebral discs of the bovine tail. J Anat. 2002; 201(6):465-75. PMC: 1570996. DOI: 10.1046/j.1469-7580.2002.00111.x. View

Zehra U, Robson-Brown K, Adams M, Dolan P . Porosity and Thickness of the Vertebral Endplate Depend on Local Mechanical Loading. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2015; 40(15):1173-80. DOI: 10.1097/BRS.0000000000000925. View

10.

Aoki J, Yamamoto I, Kitamura N, Sone T, Itoh H, Torizuka K . End plate of the discovertebral joint: degenerative change in the elderly adult. Radiology. 1987; 164(2):411-4. DOI: 10.1148/radiology.164.2.3602378. View

11.

Boos N, Weissbach S, Rohrbach H, Weiler C, Spratt K, Nerlich A . Classification of age-related changes in lumbar intervertebral discs: 2002 Volvo Award in basic science. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2002; 27(23):2631-44. DOI: 10.1097/00007632-200212010-00002. View

12.

Alini M, Eisenstein S, Ito K, Little C, Kettler A, Masuda K . Are animal models useful for studying human disc disorders/degeneration?. Eur Spine J. 2007; 17(1):2-19. PMC: 2365516. DOI: 10.1007/s00586-007-0414-y. View

13.

Rajasekaran S, Bajaj N, Tubaki V, Kanna R, Shetty A . ISSLS Prize winner: The anatomy of failure in lumbar disc herniation: an in vivo, multimodal, prospective study of 181 subjects. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2013; 38(17):1491-500. DOI: 10.1097/BRS.0b013e31829a6fa6. View

14.

Benneker L, Heini P, Alini M, Anderson S, Ito K . 2004 Young Investigator Award Winner: vertebral endplate marrow contact channel occlusions and intervertebral disc degeneration. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2005; 30(2):167-73. DOI: 10.1097/01.brs.0000150833.93248.09. View

15.

Wade K, Robertson P, Broom N . A fresh look at the nucleus-endplate region: new evidence for significant structural integration. Eur Spine J. 2011; 20(8):1225-32. PMC: 3175834. DOI: 10.1007/s00586-011-1704-y. View

16.

Wade K, Robertson P, Broom N . Influence of maturity on nucleus-endplate integration in the ovine lumbar spine. Eur Spine J. 2014; 23(4):732-44. PMC: 3960433. DOI: 10.1007/s00586-014-3181-6. View

17.

Moore R, Vernon-Roberts B, Fraser R, Osti O, Schembri M . The origin and fate of herniated lumbar intervertebral disc tissue. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 1996; 21(18):2149-55. DOI: 10.1097/00007632-199609150-00018. View

18.

Detiger S, Holewijn R, Hoogendoorn R, van Royen B, Helder M, Berger F . MRI T2* mapping correlates with biochemistry and histology in intervertebral disc degeneration in a large animal model. Eur Spine J. 2014; 24(9):1935-43. DOI: 10.1007/s00586-014-3498-1. View

19.

Rodrigues S, Wade K, Thambyah A, Broom N . Micromechanics of annulus-end plate integration in the intervertebral disc. Spine J. 2012; 12(2):143-50. DOI: 10.1016/j.spinee.2012.01.003. View

20.

Wang Y, Battie M, Videman T . A morphological study of lumbar vertebral endplates: radiographic, visual and digital measurements. Eur Spine J. 2012; 21(11):2316-23. PMC: 3481085. DOI: 10.1007/s00586-012-2415-8. View