Diffusion of small solutes into the intervertebral disc:​ as in vivo study

Urban, J. P. G.; Holm, S.; Maroudas, A.

Affiliations

¹Biomechanics Unit, Imperial College, London SW7 (present address: Bone & Joint Research Unit, Arthritis and Rheumatism Research Council Building, London Hospital Medical College, London EI 2AD)

²Department of Orthorpaedic Surgery I, Sahlgren Hospital, Gothenberg, Sweden

Abstract

By comparing results obtained in vivo on penetration of (³⁵S) sulphate and (³H) methyl glucose into the intervertebral disc of adult dogs, with those calculated using Fick’s law, and diffusion and partition coefficients obtained in vitro, diffusion was shown to be the main mechanism for transport of small solutes into the intervertebral disc.

About 40 percent of the endplate area was found to be permeable to small solutes. However the amount of solute entering via the endplate was shown to be less for negatively charged solutes such as the sulphate ion, than for neutral solutes such as glucose, because of charge exclusion in the region of the nucleus.

The mean turnover time of 470 days found for sulphated glycosaminoglycans in the disc is similar to that reported for dog articular cartilage.

Links

DOI: 10.3233/bir-1978-153-409

PubMed: 737323

WoS: A1978GG00200007

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Year	Entry
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2001	Callaghan JP, McGill SM. Intervertebral disc herniation: studies on a porcine model exposed to highly repetitive flexion/extension motion with compressive force. Clin Biomech (Bristol, Avon). January 2001;16(1):28-37.
1987	Torzilli PA, Adams TC, Mis RJ. Transient solute diffusion in articular cartilage. J Biomech. 1987;20(2):203-214.
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