软骨终板形态与椎间盘退变的相关性

背景：以往研究证明多种内环境因素共同作用引发椎间盘退变,最重要的机制为椎间盘软骨终板的退变。 目的：分析椎间盘退变与终板形态的关系。 方法：回顾性分析62例因椎间盘源性慢性下腰痛和79例因髓核脱出致神经根性症状患者的腰椎MRI正中矢状位图像资料。根据腰椎MRI正中矢状位T1W1图像确定终板形态,T2W1图像确定椎间盘退变程度分级。 结果与结论：平坦型和不规则型终板最常见于椎间盘退变人群下腰椎,L5/S1平坦型最多见。髓核脱出组与椎间盘源性慢性下腰痛组中凹陷型终板椎间盘退变程度均较平坦型、不规则型低,平坦型终板椎间盘退变程度较不规则型低(P < 0.01)。两组间凹陷型与不规则型终板椎间盘退变程度差异无显著性意义,髓核脱出组平坦型椎间盘退变程度较椎间盘源性慢性下腰痛组高(P < 0.05)。提示随着椎间盘退变程度的加重,软骨终板形态有由凹陷型向平坦型、不规则型依次转变的趋势。     

软骨终板干细胞动物体内成骨/软骨的初步研究

目的观察软骨终板干细胞在动物体内成骨/软骨的能力。方法临床获取腰椎退变椎间盘软骨终板,采用琼脂糖筛选软骨终板干细胞后进行传代扩增,扩增后的软骨终板干细胞与羟基磷灰石复合后植入裸鼠皮下,7周后处死裸鼠取出复合物,分别进行特殊染色和免疫组化染色分析。同时,将扩增的干细胞注入兔子退变椎间盘中,16周后行MRI检测,观察退变椎间盘修复情况。结果软骨终板干细胞羟基磷灰石复合物切片经甲苯胺蓝染色后有异染性,提示有软骨基质形成;同时Mallory染色显示羟基磷灰石空隙中有蓝染存在,说明有成熟的骨基质形成。免疫组织化学结果提示,所形成的基质主要为Ⅰ型和Ⅹ型胶原,同时有少量Ⅱ型胶原表达。MRI结果提示植入退变椎间盘的终板干细胞在动物体内可以分化为类软骨样细胞,从而修复退变椎间盘。结论软骨终板干细胞可以在动物体内向成骨/软骨方向分化。     

腰骶椎矢状位形态学改变与椎间盘退变的MRI评价

背景：目前关于椎间盘退变在MRI上的影像学表现及其与下腰痛的关系报道甚多,但腰骶椎矢状位形态学改变与椎间盘退变程度的关系国内尚未见相关报道。 目的：观察下腰痛患者腰骶椎矢状位形态学改变与椎间盘退变的关系,并探讨其临床意义。 方法：对主诉下腰痛来安徽医科大学第一附属医院门诊就诊并行MRI检查的患者做回顾性分析,选择年龄20~30岁的女性患者167例,在MRI正中矢状面的T2W1图像上观察椎间盘的信号改变及退变程度,评价退变分级,测量每个患者的腰椎前凸角,骶骨平台角及骶椎后凸角度。 结果与结论：椎间盘退变组与无椎间退变组腰椎前凸角分别为(24.31±3.48)°和(26.29±3.74)°,差异有显著性意义(P=0.001);骶骨平台角分别为(102.97±5.58)°和(100.70±3.26)°,差异有显著性意义(P=0.002);骶骨后凸角分别为(163.45±7.03)°和(167.24±6.71)°,差异有显著性意义(P=0.001)。提示腰椎前凸角、骶骨后凸角、骶骨平台角是评价椎间盘退变程度的形态学参数,腰椎前凸角和骶骨后凸角随椎间盘退变加重而减小,骶骨平台角随椎间盘退变加重而增大。关键词：腰骶椎;形态;椎间盘;退变;MRI doi:10.3969/j.issn.1673-8225.2012.17.023     

腰椎间盘退变对软骨终板生物力学特性影响的有限元分析

目的　研究腰椎终板不同位点的压应力分布规律,分析腰椎间盘退变对软骨终板压应力的影响。 方法　选取一青壮年男性新鲜尸体的腰椎运动节段标本,螺旋CT机对腰椎运动节段进行连续CT扫描,利用有限元分析方法,建立L4/5运动节段有限元分析模型,在此基础上建立椎间盘退变模型。模拟椎间盘正常状态和椎间盘退变状态,在L4、L5椎体终板上选择具有代表性的结点,分别代表椎体终板正中部、左右侧边缘、后中部和前中部,对上下软骨终板压应力分布进行有限元分析。 结果　椎间盘退变组较正常组的终板压应力均显著增大,上下终板在轴向加载、前屈、后伸、左旋和右旋加载时椎间盘退变组较正常状态时应力分布均显著增大,具有统计学意义（P<0.05）。 结论　腰椎椎间盘退变因素对终板的应力分布有明显影响, 随着椎间盘退变,椎间盘软骨终板应力显著增大。     

退变腰椎Modic改变及分型与肿瘤坏死因子α、基质金属蛋白酶3的表达

背景：大量文献报道了炎性细胞因子在腰椎退变性疾病中发挥着重要的作用,并发现这些退变的腰椎终板及终板下区域椎体在MRI上出现信号的改变。 目的：探讨肿瘤坏死因子α、基质金属蛋白酶3与腰椎终板及终板下骨质在MRI上的异常信号改变关系。 方法：实验组椎间盘终板标本取自因腰椎退变行腰椎椎间融合患者,共20例;Modic Ⅰ型、Ⅱ型各10例。对照组椎间盘终板标本取自因腰椎外伤行腰椎椎间融合患者,共10例。应用免疫组织化学染色的方法测定椎间盘终板肿瘤坏死因子α、基质金属蛋白酶3的表达。 结果与结论：实验组肿瘤坏死因子α、基质金属蛋白酶3表达水平显著高于对照组(P < 0.05),实验组基质金属蛋白酶3,肿瘤坏死因子α在Modic Ⅰ型终板的表达均明显高于Ⅱ型(P < 0.05),实验组中肿瘤坏死因子α与基质金属蛋白酶3的表达无相关性。提示肿瘤坏死因子α、基质金属蛋白酶3可能在腰椎间盘终板退变过程中起促进作用;不同Modic分型肿瘤坏死因子α、基质金属蛋白酶3的表达存在差异。     

LncRNA在椎间盘退变中的作用机制及临床应用前景

<正>椎间盘退变(intervertebral disc degenerative,IDD)是指构成椎间盘的髓核、纤维环及软骨终板等组织发生衰老退变进而引起腰腿痛及活动受限为特征的脊柱疾患，其可发展为腰椎间盘突出、椎管狭窄等导致患者出现长期下腰痛甚至瘫痪^[1]。据报道，全球84%的人有因腰椎间盘退变引起的急慢性腰痛及活动障碍史，其中10%的人因此终生残疾。     

腰椎间盘退变时椎间隙形态与腰椎曲度变化及其临床意义

目的:研究腰椎间盘退变时椎间隙的形态变化以及腰椎曲度的变化,并探讨其临床意义。方法:121例研究对象分成3组,对照组33例,L4/5椎间盘轻度退变组53例,重度退变组35例。将所有研究对象的MRI片输入电脑,在MRI正中失状面的T2WI图像上观察椎间盘的信号,椎间隙的前高、中高和后高,椎间隙的角度以及腰椎曲度。结果:(1) 椎间隙高度在对照组、腰椎间盘轻度和重度退变组逐渐减小,两两间有显著性差异(P <0.05); (2)椎间隙角度以及腰椎曲度在对照组、腰椎间盘轻度和重度退变组逐渐减小,两两间有显著性差异(P <0.05); (3)椎间隙的角度和腰椎曲度呈正相关, (P<0.05)。结论:腰椎间盘退变时椎间隙的形态以及腰椎曲度发生变化,这些变化对腰椎间盘退变的治疗有指导意义。     

下腰痛磁共振弥散加权成像诊断价值的研究进展

下腰痛是临床常见病,此病约累及全部人群的70％～85％,约有10％发展成慢性腰痛[1].下腰痛临床症状的产生主要是由于椎间盘退变,周围疼痛感受器受刺激所致,约有39％的慢性腰痛的患者是椎间盘源性的.部分患者丧失劳动能力,影响了正常的社会生活. 1 腰椎间盘正常解剖及病理过程 1.1 腰椎间盘生理特征 正常腰椎间盘主要由中央髓核、纤维软骨环、终板软骨和Sharpey纤维4部分组成,构成一个完整的结构单元.椎间盘髓核主要成分为蛋白多糖,由Ⅱ型胶原纤维和弹性蛋白构成网状结构,位于椎间盘的中央.纤维软骨环位于椎间盘的外围,主要由Ⅰ型胶原纤维组成,位于相邻椎体间.     

Mallory染色法在椎间盘退变组织染色中的应用

背景:椎间盘退变的同时伴随有组织结构和成分的改变。采用多种染色剂连续复染形成多元色的组织学图形,可观察到各组织成分的不同颜色以及椎间盘退变时的颜色变化,在分辨力的显现上,比单纯形态学的改变更明显且易于分辨。目的:从组织形态和颜色变化两方面观察Mallory三色染色对椎间盘的染色效果。方法:取1,1.5,2,2.5和3月龄Hartley豚鼠L4～5椎体,制备中央冠状面椎间盘组织切片。用Mallory染液染色,光学显微镜下观察髓核、软骨终板和纤维环各区域形态和颜色的变化。SPOT-Ⅱ数码成像系统拍摄图像。结果与结论:Hartley豚鼠椎间盘退变程度随鼠龄增长自然加重。1月龄豚鼠的髓核形态正常,无色透明。在1.5～3月龄豚鼠中,髓核逐渐退变,由局部发展至全部基质呈现浅蓝着色,表明有胶原沉积,其形态上可见脊索细胞呈现软骨样细胞变性,髓核面积逐渐缩小并逐渐被纤维软骨样组织替代,直至在3月龄时呈现"蛇纹石"样外观。其终板上紫红色软骨细胞带随鼠龄增长呈现出不规则形态直至消失,其形态上可见软骨细胞逐渐减少。外纤维环红色和橘黄色的面积随着鼠龄增长而增加,表明有纤维素样变性,其形态上可见明显的板层状结构。内纤维环蓝色的面积随着鼠龄增长逐渐缩小。结果显示Mallory三色法用于Hartley豚鼠椎间盘染色时,在髓核、软骨终板和纤维环上,可从色彩、形态两方面显示出对基质和细胞具有良好的组织分辨力,能从形态和成分变化的角度反映自然增龄过程中椎间盘组织的退变情况。     

椎间失稳致兔腰椎软骨终板退变的形态学研究

目的:研究兔腰椎软骨终板退变中的形态学变化.方法:将24只新西兰白兔随机均分为实验组和对照组,实验组通过切除兔腰椎棘上、棘间韧带,咬除部分关节突关节,分离椎旁肌造成腰椎软骨终板退变模型,分别于术后12、24、36周对腰椎摄X线片,行HE及甲苯胺蓝染色观察软骨终板形态学的变化;并行软骨终板蛋白多糖及胶原检测.结果:X线片示软骨终板随时间的延长而逐渐钙化,且实验组较对照组钙化明显;随软骨终板退变进程,HE染色示实验组软骨终板较对照组明显变薄,潮标明显前移,血管芽周嗣钙化;甲苯胺蓝染色示实验组软骨终板染色逐渐变淡,细胞层数明显变少;蛋白多糖含量及胶原释放量逐渐降低,不同时间段实验组明显较对照组低(P<0.01).结论:椎间失稳可导致软骨终板形态学及细胞外基质变化,造成软骨终板退变,为进一步研究其退变机理提供理论依据.     

Inhibition of vertebral endplate perfusion results in decreased intervertebral disc intranuclear diffusive transport

Impaired nutrition of the intervertebral disc has been hypothesized to be one of the causes of disc degeneration. However, no causal relationship between decreased endplate perfusion and limited nutrient transport has been demonstrated to support this pathogenic mechanism. To determine the importance of endplate perfusion on solute diffusion into the nucleus pulposus and to show causality of endplate perfusion on intranuclear diffusion in large animal lumbar intervertebral discs, diffusive transport into ovine lumbar intervertebral discs was evaluated after inhibiting adjacent vertebral endplate perfusion. Partial perfusion blocks were created in vertebrae close and parallel to both endplates of lumbar discs of anaesthetized sheep. To assess diffusivity of small molecules through the endplate, N2O was introduced into the inhalation gas mixture and concentrations of intranuclear N2O were measured for 35 min thereafter. Post mortem, procion red was infused through the spinal vasculature and perfusion through the endplate was assessed by quantifying the density of dye-perfused endplate vascular buds in histology sections. Perfusion of the endplates overlying the nucleus pulposus was inhibited by almost 50% in the partially blocked discs relative to the control discs. There was also a nine-fold decreased transport rate of intranuclear N2O in partially blocked discs compared with control discs. The density of perfused endplate vascular buds correlated significantly to the amount of transported intranuclear N2O (r2 = 0.52, P = 0.008). The vertebral endplate was demonstrated to be the main route of intravascular solute transport into the nucleus pulposus of intervertebral discs, and inhibition of endplate perfusion can cause inhibited solute transport into the disc intranuclear tissue.     

椎间盘突出患者椎间盘Fas基因的表达

背景：临床中发现腰椎间盘突出症常在一个家族中多人甚至全部发病,而且发病的部位、原因、症状基本一致,这表明基因在该种病症中扮演着重要的角色。 目的：分析家族性腰椎椎间盘突出症患者椎间盘内Fas凋亡基因表达的特点。 方法：用半定量RT-PCR方法检测15例家族性腰椎椎间盘突出患者、21例普通椎间盘突出患者、5例新鲜尸体椎间盘的软骨终板和髓核组织中Fas基因的表达情况。 结果与结论：家族性椎间盘突出与普通椎间盘突出患者终板内Fas基因的表达均高于新鲜尸体椎间盘终板内Fas基因的表达,差异有显著性意义(P < 0.05),家族性椎间盘突出与普通椎间盘突出患者终板内Fas基因的表达差异无显著性意义(P > 0.05)。家族性椎间盘突出患者髓核内Fas基因表达与普通椎间盘突出患者、新鲜尸体髓核内Fas基因表达相比较,差异无显著性意义(P > 0.05)。结果可见家族性椎间盘终板中Fas基因的表达增加可能是继发性的,可以通过阻止终板退变来达到阻止椎间盘退变的目的。     

Intervertebral disc degeneration: evidence for two distinct phenotypes

We review the evidence that there are two types of disc degeneration. ‘Endplate-driven’ disc degeneration involves endplate defects and inwards collapse of the annulus, has a high heritability, mostly affects discs in the upper lumbar and thoracic spine, often starts to develop before age 30 years, usually leads to moderate back pain, and is associated with compressive injuries such as a fall on the buttocks. ‘Annulus-driven’ disc degeneration involves a radial fissure and/or a disc prolapse, has a low heritability, mostly affects discs in the lower lumbar spine, develops progressively after age 30 years, usually leads to severe back pain and sciatica, and is associated with repetitive bending and lifting. The structural defects which initiate the two processes both act to decompress the disc nucleus, making it less likely that the other defect could occur subsequently, and in this sense the two disc degeneration phenotypes can be viewed as distinct.     

腰椎退变与不稳的影像学研究

目的：探讨椎间盘退变、小关节骨关节炎与腰椎退变性不稳3者之间的关系。方法：分析120个下腰痛患者的核磁共振影像与脊柱功能位X线片，腰椎不稳分为成角不稳，旋转不稳和水平不稳；椎间盘退变根据T2加权相被分为5级；小关节骨关节炎在T1加权相上被分为4级。结果：椎间盘退变程度和年龄成正相关，差异有显著性意义（P〈0．01）；有26．8％（93个）节段出现腰椎不稳，其中以椎间盘退变程度为1，2级的节段最为多见，与其他各级相比差异有极显著性意义（P〈0．01）；椎间盘退变和小关节骨关节炎呈正相关（J=0．937，P〈0．05），向前水平不稳和椎间盘退变和小关节骨关节炎明显相关，差异成极显著性（P〈0．01）。结论：放射影像测量的腰椎不稳定和小关节骨关节炎和椎间盘退变有明确的相关性。     

成人腰椎终板冠状面后缘解剖形态学分析及其临床意义

目的　观测正常成人腰椎终板冠状面后缘的CT解剖学特征，为临床椎间融合器设计及腰椎间盘置换术等手术提供解剖学依据。 方法　将62套成人腰椎L1~5上、下缘终板冠状面后缘形态进行解剖学分型，分为3型：I型，凹形；Ⅱ型，平型；Ⅲ型，凸型，测量（1）上、下终板左侧椎弓根与终板连接的中点分别到终板中线的垂线距离（LLU，LLL）；（2）上、下终板右侧椎弓根与终板连接的中点分别到终板中线的垂线距离（LRU，LRL）；（3）上、下终板冠状面后缘中点分别到终板中线之间的垂线距离（LMU，LML）。 结果　L1~4上、下终板形态以凹型为主，L1上终板凹型占93.75%，下终板占80%；L2上终板凹型占77.27%，下终板占68.18%；L3上终板凹型占58.33%，下终板占54.17%；L4上终板凹型占66.67%，下终板占55.56%。L5上终板则以凹型和凸型为主要类型，分别为35.48%、35.48%；下终板则以凸型为主要类型，占61.29%。在L2上终板，LLU、LRU、LMU存在性别间的差异，有统计学意义（P<0.05）；在L3下终板，LLL、LRL存在性别间的差异，有统计学意义（P<0.05）。 结论　L1~4上、下终板的主要类型为凹型，而L5上、下终板较为特殊，上终板主要为凹型和凸型，下终板多为凸型。本研究对腰椎上、下终板形态分型及测量可作为人工腰椎间盘终板的设计及改进的参考依据。     

Visualization of intervertebral disc degeneration in a cadaveric human lumbar spine using microcomputed tomography

Gross features of disc degeneration (DD) that are associated with back pain include tears in the anulus fibrosus, structural changes of the endplates, and a collapse of the anulus. The aim of this study is the detailed visualization and microstructural characterization of DD using microcomputed tomography (μCT) and a dedicated image post-processing pipeline. In detail, we investigate a cadaveric spine that shows both types of DD between L1 and L2 and between L2 and L3, respectively. The lumbar spine was obtained from a male donor aged 74 years. The complete specimen was scanned using μCT with an isometric voxel size of 93 μm. Subsequently, regions of interest (ROI) were prepared featuring each complete intervertebral disc including the adjacent endplates. ROIs were then additionally scanned with a voxel size of 35 μm and by means of magnetic resonance imaging. The collapsed endplate of the superior L2 showed explicit signs of an endplate-driven degeneration, including bony endplate failures. In contrast, the intervertebral disc between L2 and L3 showed indications of an annulus-driven DD including severe disc height loss and concentric tears. Using μCT we were able to visualize and quantify bone and cartilage features in DD. We showed that in both cases a suite of structural changes accompanies cartilage degeneration, including microstructural bony adaptions to counteract changes in the biomechanical loading regimen.     

Dependency of disc degeneration on shear and tensile strains between annular fiber layers for complex loads

BackgroundOne of the first signs of disc degeneration is the formation of circumferential tears within the annulus fibrosus. It is assumed that high shear and tensile strains between the lamellae mainly cause the initiation of these failures. However, it is not known which load application and which degree of disc degeneration could lead to the highest strains and therefore, might induce the formation of tears. Therefore, the aim of this finite element (FE) study was, to find load combinations that would yield highest shear and tensile strains in differently degenerated discs.Materials and methodsA three-dimensional FE-model of a motion segment L4-5 was utilized in different degrees of disc degeneration (healthy, mild, moderate, and severe). The degenerated models consider the reduction of disc height, endplate curvatures, the osteophyte formation, the increase of nucleus compressibility, and the decrease of fiber and ligament stiffness. An axial compression load of 500 N together with moments of 7.5 Nm in single and combined load directions were simulated.ResultsHigh strains for the healthy and degenerated discs were predicted for load combinations, particularly for the combination of lateral bending plus flexion or extension. The maximum strains were located in the postero-lateral region of the disc. In comparison to the healthy disc, the maximum strains increased slightly for the mildly and moderately degenerated disc. Strains decreased strongly for the severely degenerated disc. With progressive degeneration, the size of the region of maximum strains diminished and the location transferred from the inner annulus to the adjacent bony endplates.ConclusionsThe results could be a possible explanation for the initiation of circumferential tears. The mildly degenerated disc model, which represents early stages of life, suggests that circumferential tears could primarily occur at these stages, especially for the load combinations of lateral bending plus axial rotation and lateral bending plus flexion.     

骨保护素基因敲除小鼠腰椎间盘退变与腰椎骨质疏松

背景：骨保护素基因敲除小鼠已被证明会表现出明显的骨质疏松及骨关节炎表型。 目的：观察骨保护素基因敲除小鼠随年龄增长腰椎间盘退变和骨质疏松的动态变化关系。 方法：分别取出生后4,8,12周的骨保护素基因敲除纯合子小鼠及正常对照组小鼠的L3椎体和L4/5椎间盘,运用Micro-CT检测L3椎体松质骨微结构指标;用苏木精-伊红染色法观察L4/5椎间盘形态学,测量椎间盘及软骨终板高度。 结果与结论：骨保护素基因敲除纯合子小鼠组L3椎体骨小梁数量、骨小梁厚度、骨体积分数较正常组均明显下降(P < 0.05),而骨小梁分离度、结构模型指数较正常小鼠增高(P < 0.05)。8周及12周的骨保护素基因敲除纯合子小鼠的L4/5椎间盘软骨终板出现退变征象,软骨终板排列不规则,并有骨髓腔组织进入软骨终板及外层纤维环。提示骨保护素基因在维持椎间盘正常的结构和功能方面起到重要作用,骨保护素基因缺失后可导致椎间盘退变和椎体骨质疏松。