Intervertebral disc degeneration in warmblood horses: Histological and biochemical characterization

2022 ◽  
pp. 030098582110674
Author(s):  
Wilhelmina Bergmann ◽  
Chris van de Lest ◽  
Saskia Plomp ◽  
Johannes C. M. Vernooij ◽  
Inge D. Wijnberg ◽  
...  

Gross morphology of healthy and degenerated intervertebral discs (IVDs) is largely similar in horses as in dogs and humans. For further comparison, the biochemical composition and the histological and biochemical changes with age and degeneration were analyzed in 41 warmblood horses. From 33 horses, 139 discs and 2 fetal vertebral columns were evaluated and scored histologically. From 13 horses, 73 IVDs were assessed for hydration, DNA, glycosaminoglycans, total collagen, hydroxyl-lysyl-pyridinoline, hydroxylysine, and advanced glycation end-product (AGE) content. From 7 horses, 20 discs were assessed for aggrecan, fibronectin, and collagen type 1 and 2 content. Histologically, tearing of the nucleus pulposus (NP) and cervical annulus fibrosus (AF), and total histological score (tearing and vascular proliferation of the AF, and chondroid metaplasia, chondrocyte-like cell proliferation, presence of notochordal cells, matrix staining, and tearing of the NP) correlated with gross degeneration. Notochordal cells were not seen in IVDs of horses. Age and gross degeneration were positively correlated with AGEs and a fibrotic phenotype, explaining gross degenerative changes. In contrast to dogs and humans, there was no consistent difference in glycosaminoglycan content and hydration between AF and NP, nor decrease of these variables with age or degeneration. Hydroxylysine decrease and collagen 1 and AGEs increase were most prominent in the NP, suggesting degeneration started in the AP. In caudal cervical NPs, AGE deposition was significantly increased in grossly normal IVDs and total collagen significantly increased with age, suggesting increased biomechanical stress and likelihood for spinal disease in this part of the vertebral column.

2012 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marie Klauser ◽  
Franck Forterre ◽  
Marcus Doherr ◽  
Andreas Zurbriggen ◽  
David Spreng ◽  
...  

Disc degeneration occurs commonly in dogs. A variety of factors is thought to contribute an inappropriate disc matrix that isolate cells in the disc and lead to apoptosis. Disc herniation with radiculopathy and discogenic pain are the results of the degenerative process. The objective of this prospective study was to determine the extent of apoptosis in intact and herniated intervertebral discs of chondrodystrophic dogs and non-chondrodystrophic dogs. In addition, the nucleus pulposus (NP) was histologically compared between non-chondrodystrophic and chondrodystrophic dogs. Thoracolumbar intervertebral discs and parts of the extruded nucleus pulposus were harvested from 45 dogs. Samples were subsequently stained with haematoxylin-eosin and processed to detect cleaved caspase-3 and poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase. A significant greater degree of apoptosis was observed in herniated NPs of chondrodystrophic dogs compared to non- chondrodystrophic dogs with poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase and cleaved caspase- 3 detection. Within the group of chondrodystrophic dogs, dogs with an intact disc and younger than 6 years showed a significant lower incidence of apoptosis in the NP compared to the herniated NP of chondrodystrophic dogs. The extent of apoptosis in the annulus fibrosus was not different between the intact disc from chondrodystrophic and non- chondrodystrophic dogs. An age-related increase of apoptotic cells in NP and annulus fibrosus was found in the intact non-herniated intervertebral discs. Histologically, absence of notochordal cells and occurrence of chondroid metaplasia were observed in the nucleus pulposus of chondrodystrophic dogs. As a result, we found that apoptosis plays a role in disc degeneration in chondrodystrophic dogs.


2017 ◽  
Vol 54 (6) ◽  
pp. 945-952 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tove Hansen ◽  
Lucas A. Smolders ◽  
Marianna A. Tryfonidou ◽  
Björn P. Meij ◽  
Johannes C. M. Vernooij ◽  
...  

Since the seminal work by Hans-Jörgen Hansen in 1952, it has been assumed that intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration in chondrodystrophic (CD) dogs involves chondroid metaplasia of the nucleus pulposus, whereas in nonchondrodystrophic (NCD) dogs, fibrous metaplasia occurs. However, more recent studies suggest that IVD degeneration in NCD and CD dogs is more similar than originally thought. Therefore, the aim of this study was to compare the histopathology of IVD degeneration in CD and NCD dogs. IVDs with various grades of degeneration (Thompson grade I–III, n = 7 per grade) from both CD and NCD dogs were used (14 CD and 18 NCD dogs, 42 IVDs in total). Sections were scored according to a histological scoring scheme for canine IVD degeneration, including evaluation of the presence of fibrocyte-like cells in the nucleus pulposus. In CD dogs, the macroscopically non-degenerated nucleus pulposus contained mainly chondrocyte-like cells, whereas the non-degenerated nucleus pulposus of NCD dogs mainly contained notochordal cells. The histopathological changes in degenerated discs were similar in CD and NCD dogs and resembled chondroid metaplasia. Fibrocytes were not seen in the nucleus pulposus, indicating that fibrous degeneration of the IVD was not present in any of the evaluated grades of degeneration. In conclusion, intervertebral disc degeneration was characterized by chondroid metaplasia of the nucleus pulposus in both NCD and CD dogs. These results revoke the generally accepted concept that NCD and CD dogs suffer from a different type of IVD degeneration, in veterinary literature often referred to as chondroid or fibroid degeneration, and we suggest that chondroid metaplasia should be used to describe the tissue changes in the IVD in both breed types.


2016 ◽  
Vol 201 (5) ◽  
pp. 354-365 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhao Huang ◽  
Benjamin Kohl ◽  
Maria Kokozidou ◽  
Stephan Arens ◽  
Gundula Schulze-Tanzil

Tissue-engineered intervertebral discs (IVDs) utilizing decellularized extracellular matrix (ECM) could be an option for the reconstruction of impaired IVDs due to degeneration or injury. The objective of this study was to prepare a cell-free decellularized human IVD scaffold and to compare neotissue formation in response to recellularization with human IVD cells (hIVDCs) or human bone marrow-derived (hBM) mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs). IVDs were decellularized via freeze-thaw cycles, detergents and trypsin. Histological staining was performed to monitor cell removal and glycosaminoglycan (GAG) removal. The decellularized IVD was preconditioned using bovine serum albumin and fetal bovine serum before its cytocompatibility for dynamically cultured hBM-MSCs (chondrogenically induced or not) and hIVDCs was compared after 14 days. In addition, DNA, total collagen and GAG contents were assessed. The decellularization protocol achieved maximal cell removal, with only few remaining cell nuclei compared with native tissue, and low toxicity. The DNA content was significantly higher in scaffolds seeded with hIVDCs compared with native IVDs, cell-free and hBM-MSC-seeded scaffolds (p < 0.01). The GAG content in the native tissue was significantly higher compared to the others groups except for the scaffolds reseeded with chondrogenically induced hBM-MSCs (p < 0.05). In addition, there was a significantly increased total collagen content in the chondrogenically induced hBM-MSCs group (p < 0.01) compared with the native IVDs, cell-free and hIVDC-seeded scaffolds (p < 0.01); both recolonizing cell types were more evenly distributed on the scaffold surface, but only few cells penetrated the scaffold. The resulting decellularized ECM was cytocompatible and allowed hBM-MSCs/hIVDCs survival and ECM production.


Biomaterials ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 27 (3) ◽  
pp. 362-370 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hirokazu Mizuno ◽  
Amit K. Roy ◽  
Victor Zaporojan ◽  
Charles A. Vacanti ◽  
Minoru Ueda ◽  
...  

Author(s):  
J. H. Resau ◽  
N. Howell ◽  
S. H. Chang

Spinach grown in Texas developed “yellow spotting” on the peripheral portions of the leaves. The exact cause of the discoloration could not be determined as there was no evidence of viral or parasitic infestation of the plants and biochemical characterization of the plants did not indicate any significant differences between the yellow and green leaf portions of the spinach. The present study was undertaken using electron microscopy (EM) to determine if a micro-nutrient deficiency was the cause for the discoloration.Green leaf spinach was collected from the field and sent by express mail to the EM laboratory. The yellow and equivalent green portions of the leaves were isolated and dried in a Denton evaporator at 10-5 Torr for 24 hrs. The leaf specimens were then examined using a JEOL 100 CX analytical microscope. TEM specimens were prepared according to the methods of Trump et al.


Author(s):  
Jason R. Swedlow ◽  
Neil Osheroff ◽  
Tim Karr ◽  
John W. Sedat ◽  
David A. Agard

DNA topoisomerase II is an ATP-dependent double-stranded DNA strand-passing enzyme that is necessary for full condensation of chromosomes and for complete segregation of sister chromatids at mitosis in vivo and in vitro. Biochemical characterization of chromosomes or nuclei after extraction with high-salt or detergents and DNAse treatment showed that topoisomerase II was a major component of this remnant, termed the chromosome scaffold. The scaffold has been hypothesized to be the structural backbone of the chromosome, so the localization of topoisomerase II to die scaffold suggested that the enzyme might play a structural role in the chromosome. However, topoisomerase II has not been studied in nuclei or chromosomes in vivo. We have monitored the chromosomal distribution of topoisomerase II in vivo during mitosis in the Drosophila embryo. This embryo forms a multi-nucleated syncytial blastoderm early in its developmental cycle. During this time, the embryonic nuclei synchronously progress through 13 mitotic cycles, so this is an ideal system to follow nuclear and chromosomal dynamics.


2014 ◽  
Vol 4 (1_suppl) ◽  
pp. s-0034-1376539-s-0034-1376539
Author(s):  
E. Krock ◽  
D. H. Rosenzweig ◽  
A. J. Chabot-Dore ◽  
P. Jarzem ◽  
M. H. Weber ◽  
...  

2019 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
pp. 1-9
Author(s):  
Russel J Reiter ◽  
Sergio Rosales-Corral ◽  
Ramaswamy Sharma

     Low back pain (lumbar pain) due to injury of or damage to intervertebral discs is common in all societies.  The loss of work time as a result of this problem is massive.  Recent research suggests that melatonin may prevent or counteract intervertebral disc damage. This may be especially relevant in aging populations given that endogenous melatonin, in most individuals, dwindles with increasing age. The publications related to melatonin and its protection of the intervertebral disc are reviewed herein, including definition of some molecular mechanisms that account for melatonin’s protective actions. 


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