title: Mechanoreceptors in Diseased Cervical Intervertebral Disc and Vertigo.
abstract: METHODS
  We collected the samples of cervical intervertebral discs from patients with vertigo to examine the distribution and types of mechanoreceptors in diseased cervical disc.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to determine whether mechanoreceptors are distributed more abundantly in cervical discs from patients with cervical spondylosis, and whether they are related to vertigo.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Previous limited studies have found that normal cervical intervertebral discs are supplied with mechanoreceptors that have been considered responsible for proprioceptive functions. Several clinical studies have indicated that the patients with cervical spondylosis manifested significantly impaired postural control and subjective balance disturbance.
  
  
  METHODS
  We collected 77 samples of cervical discs from 62 cervical spondylosis patients without vertigo, 61 samples from 54 patients with vertigo, and 40 control samples from 8 cadaveric donors to investigate distribution of mechanoreceptors containing neurofilament (NF200) and S-100 protein immunoreactive nerve endings.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The immunohistochemical investigation revealed that the most frequently encountered mechanoreceptors were the Ruffini corpuscles in all groups of cervical disc samples. They were obviously increased in the number and deeply ingrown into inner annulus fibrosus and even into nucleus pulposus in the diseased cervical discs from patients with vertigo in comparison with the discs from patients without vertigo and control discs. Only three Golgi endings were seen in the three samples from patients with vertigo. No Pacinian corpuscles were found in any samples of cervical discs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The diseased cervical discs from patients with vertigo had more abundant distribution of Ruffini corpuscles than other discs. A positive association between the increased number and ingrowth of Ruffini corpuscles in the diseased cervical disc and the incidence of vertigo in the patients with cervical spondylosis was found, which may indicate a key role of Ruffini corpuscles in the pathogenesis of vertigo of cervical origin.
  
  
  METHODS
  1.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopeadics, Xijing Hospital, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China.|Department of Orthopedics, Pingjin Hospital, Logistics College of Armed Police Forces, Tianjin, China.
authors.forename: Liang
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopeadics, Changzheng Hospital, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Cheng
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Department of Spinal Surgery, General Hospital of Armed Police Force, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Xiaodong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Pang
authors.affiliation: Department of Spinal Surgery, General Hospital of Armed Police Force, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Duanming
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Spinal Surgery, General Hospital of Armed Police Force, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Hong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, General Hospital of Armed Police Force, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Xinwu
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, 304th Hospital, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Yi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Department of Spinal Surgery, General Hospital of Armed Police Force, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Baogan
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Peng
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007403:Intervertebral Disc / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008465:Mechanoreceptors / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D016900:Neurofilament Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D011843:Radiculopathy / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D009418:S100 Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D013118:Spinal Cord Diseases / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D055009:Spondylosis / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D014717:Vertigo / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: D016900:Neurofilament Proteins; D009418:S100 Proteins; C051774:neurofilament protein H