Aims: To investigate the cells of the inner annulus and to demonstrate that differences in disc pathology can be identified at the cellular level.
Methods and results: Annulus tissue taken from scoliotic, degenerate and prolapsed human disc tissue was processed for histology and transmission electron microscopy. Ki67 antibody was used to identify cells in the active part of the cell cycle and cell surface receptors for the matrix-degrading enzyme urokinase were immunolocalized. More chondron clusters were observed in tissue from prolapsed discs than in degenerate and scoliotic discs. Positive Ki67 staining was detected in cells within chondron clusters. Most cells observed from scoliotic and prolapsed annulus contained distinctive nuclei and organelles, whereas cells from degenerate discs contained very few well-defined organelles but abundant glycogen deposits. Immunolocalization identified urokinase receptors on the surface of cells from degenerate discs but not in the other pathologies.
Conclusions: Cellular differences appear to underlie different types of disc pathology. The annulus tissue taken from prolapsed discs appeared to contain more chondron clusters and more active cells than scoliotic and degenerative tissue, suggesting a possible wound repair response. In contrast, cell and matrix degeneration appeared to be the most significant underlying processes in degenerate discs.