Effect of compression and anisotropy on the diffusion of glucose in annulus fibrosus.
METHODS
Investigation of the effect of static compression and anisotropy on the apparent diffusivity of glucose in bovine annulus fibrosus (AF). OBJECTIVE. To determine the apparent glucose diffusivity in 2 directions (axial and radial) of bovine AF under 3 levels of compressive strain (0%, 10%, and 20%).


BACKGROUND
Knowledge of diffusivity of small molecules is important for understanding nutritional supply in intervertebral discs and the mechanisms of disc degeneration. However, little is known regarding the strain-dependent and anisotropic behavior of glucose diffusivity in intervertebral discs.


METHODS
Apparent glucose diffusivity measurements were performed on 10 axial and 10 radial AF specimens from bovine coccygeal discs. The dependence of diffusivity on compression was determined using 3 levels of strain (0%, 10%, and 20%).


RESULTS
The apparent glucose diffusivity (mean +/- standard deviation) of the bovine AF in the axial direction was 1.38 +/- 0.015 x 10 cm/s (n = 10) at 0%, 1.00 +/- 0.070 x 10 cm/s (n = 10) at 10%, and 7.65 +/- 0.552 x 10 cm/s (n = 10) at 20% compression. For radial specimens, the apparent glucose diffusivity was determined to be 9.17 +/- 1.12 x 10 cm/s (n = 10), 7.29 +/- 0.863 x 10 cm/s (n = 10), and 5.43 +/- 1.16 x 10 cm/s (n = 10) for 0%, 10%, and 20% compressions, respectively. A significant decrease in diffusivity with increasing strain was found for both axial and radial specimens [analysis of variance (ANOVA), P < 0.05]. Diffusion in the radial direction was determined to be significantly less than that in the axial direction (ANOVA, P < 0.05). A significant interaction was found between the level of strain and the direction of diffusion (ANOVA, P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Diffusion of glucose in bovine AF is dependent on strain and the direction of diffusion.
Jackson
Alicia R
AR
Tissue Biomechanics Laboratory, Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL 33124-0621, USA.
Yuan
Tai-Yi
TY
Huang
Chun-Yuh C
CY
Travascio
Francesco
F
Yong Gu
Wei
W
D000818:Animals; D016880:Anisotropy; D001692:Biological Transport; D002417:Cattle; D003050:Coccyx; D004058:Diffusion; D015194:Diffusion Chambers, Culture; D005947:Glucose / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D007403:Intervertebral Disc / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D013314:Stress, Mechanical
D005947:Glucose