title: Biochemical and structural properties of the cartilage end-plate and its relation to the intervertebral disc.
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.
authors.affiliation: Charles Salt Research Centre, Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital, Oswestry, Shropshire, England.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Roberts
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Menage
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Urban
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001834:Body Water / Q000378:metabolism; D002356:Cartilage / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D055598:Chemical Phenomena; D002621:Chemistry; D006801:Humans; D006909:Hydroxyproline / Q000378:metabolism; D007403:Intervertebral Disc / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008161:Lumbosacral Region; D008751:Methylene Blue / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D011509:Proteoglycans / Q000378:metabolism; D011859:Radiography
chemical_list: D011509:Proteoglycans; D006909:Hydroxyproline; D008751:Methylene Blue; C016401:1,9-dimethylmethylene blue