title: Herniated cervical intervertebral discs: histological and immunohistochemical characteristics.
abstract: We examined the histological and immunohistochemical changes within and around herniated cervical intervertebral discs. A total of 28 herniated discs were harvested en bloc during anterior decompressive surgeries and examined together with the surrounding tissues. The presence of herniated discs correlated with the degeneration of cartilaginous endplate and torn annulus fibrosus. Formation of new blood vessels around the herniated discs was detected, using von Willebrand factor antibody, in seven (25% of all) uncontained hernias and eight (38%) contained hernias. Immunohistochemical studies using specific antibodies showed the presence of cells positive for matrix metalloproteinase-3 (chondrocytes), CD68 (macrophages and monocytes), and interleukin-1 beta (endothelial cells), in cervical disc hernias. Our results suggested that the magnitude and degree of immunohistochemical tissue reaction in cervical disc herniation correlate with the extent as well as location of herniated disc material.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Fukui Medical School, Japan.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Baba
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Maezawa
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Furusawa
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fukuda
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Uchida
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kokubo
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Imura
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000473:pathology; D002356:Cartilage / Q000473:pathology; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D019299:Decompression, Surgical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007405:Intervertebral Disc Displacement / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009999:Ossification, Heterotopic / Q000473:pathology