ISSN:
1432-119X
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Biology
,
Medicine
Notes:
Abstract Type X collagen has so far not been reported to occur in human intervertebral discs. The objective of this study was therefore to investigate the occurrence of type X collagen in human lumbar intervertebral discs during ageing and degeneration. Ninety intervertebral discs with adjacent endplates were excised in toto from individuals (0–86 years) without known spinal disease and were processed for routine decalcified histology. Appropriate slices of each disc were processed for immunohistochemistry using a type-spec ific, monoclonal antibody raised against human type X collagen. Each intervertebral disc was examined for macroscopic and histomorphological features of disc degeneration. Immunohistochemically, a positive specific type X staining was observed in the hypertrophic zone of the growth plate and only in the interstitial matrix of juvenile (〈2 years) nucleus pulposus. In adult discs, type X collagen could be localized in conjunction with advanced disc degeneration and first occurred in the disc matrix (i.e., pericellular region) of a 47-year-old specimen. Positive type X staining of the disc matrix was more frequently found in senile (〉70 years) discs with end stages of disc degeneration. This study provides the first evidence for the occurrence of type X collagen in human lumbar intervertebral discs and it appears that type X collagen is re-expressed in late stages of disc degeneration.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s004180050187
Permalink