Biochemical and structural properties of the cartilage end-plate and its relation to the intervertebral disc

Roberts, S.<sup>1</sup>; Menage, J.<sup>1</sup>; Urban, J. P. G.<sup>2</sup>

Affiliations

¹Charles Salt Research Centre, Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospitala, Oswestry, Shropshire

²University Laboratory of Physiology, Oxford University, Parks Rd, Oxford, England

Abstract

The cartilaginous end-plate is thought to play an important role in the nutrition of the intervertebral disc, and hence may be of significance in the etiology of back pain. The present study describes the biochemical and histologic properties of the end-plate and adjacent tissues in the young human adult lumbar spine. Thus, a datum is established in which to demonstrate variation with location and relationships between properties of different tissues. Results of the chemical analyses show a change in composition through the end-plate with that at the outer annulus and nearer the bone, having higher collagen but lower proteoglycan and water contents, than the end-plate nearest the disc at the nucleus. Histology demonstrated numerous disruptions along the end-plate, with Schmorl's nodes being present in several specimens. Where these occurred, the disc, and in some cases the end-plate, showed loss of proteoglycan compared with the surrounding tissue.

Links

DOI: 10.1097/00007632-198902000-00005

PubMed: 2922637

WoS: A1989T178200005

History

Received: 1988-02-22

Revised: 1988-08-19

Accepted: 1988-10-10

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2003	Urban JPG, Roberts S. Degeneration of the intervertebral disc. Arthritis Res Ther. 2003;5(3):120-130.
1996	Ishihara H, McNally DS, Urban JP, Hall AC. Effects of hydrostatic pressure on matrix synthesis in different regions of the intervertebral disk. J Appl Physiol. March 1996;80(3):839-846.
2006	Roberts S, Evans H, Trivedi J, Menage J. Histology and pathology of the human intervertebral disc. J Bone Joint Surg. April 2006;88A(suppl 2):10-14.
2020	Ashinsky BG, Bonnevie ED, Mandalapu SA, Pickup S, Wang C, Han L, Mauck RL, Smith HE, Gullbrand SE. Intervertebral disc degeneration is associated with aberrant endplate remodeling and reduced small molecule transport. J Bone Miner Res. August 2020;35(8):1572-1581.
1993	Setton LA, Zhu W, Weidenbaum M, Ratcliffe A, Mow VC. Compressive properties of the cartilaginous end-plate of the baboon lumbar spine. J Orthop Res. March 1993;11(2):228-239.
1993	Roberts S, Menage J, Eisenstein SM. The cartilage end-plate and intervertebral disc in scoliosis: calcification and other sequelae. J Orthop Res. September 1993;11(5):747-757.
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2008	Raj PP. Intervertebral disc: anatomy-physiology-pathophysiology-treatment. Pain Pract. January–February 2008;8(1):18-44.
1992	Ohshima H, Urban JPG. The effect of lactate and pH on proteoglycan and protein synthesis rates in the intervertebral disc. Spine. September 1992;17(9):1079-1082.
1996	Roberts S, Urban JPG, Evans H, Eisenstein SM. Transport properties of the human cartilage endplate in relation to its composition and calcification. Spine. March 15, 1996;21(4):415-420.
2002	Boos N, Weissbach S, Rohrbach H, Weiler C, Spratt KF, Nerlich AG. Classification of age-related changes in lumbar intervertebral discs. Spine. December 1, 2002;27(23):2631-2644.
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