| Nutrient supply and intervertebral disc metabolism. | |
| | |
MedLine Citation:
|
PMID: 16595440 Owner: NLM Status: MEDLINE |
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
|
The metabolic environment of disc cells is governed by the avascular nature of the tissue. Because cellular energy metabolism occurs mainly through glycolysis, the disc cells require glucose for survival and produce lactic acid at high rates. Oxygen is also necessary for cellular activity, although not for survival; its pathway of utilization is unclear. Because the tissues are avascular, disc cells depend on the blood supply at the margins of the discs for their nutrients. The nucleus and inner anulus of the disc are supplied by capillaries that arise in the vertebral bodies, penetrate the subchondral bone, and terminate at the bone-disc junction. Small molecules such as glucose and oxygen then reach the cells by diffusion under gradients established by the balance between the rate of transport through the tissue to the cells and the rate of cellular demand. Metabolites such as lactic acid are removed by the reverse pathway. The concentrations of nutrients farthest from the source of supply can thus be low; oxygen concentrations as low as 1% have been measured in the discs of healthy animals. Although gradients cannot be measured easily in humans, they can be calculated. Measured concentrations in surgical patients are in agreement with calculated values. |
| | |
Authors:
|
Thijs Grunhagen; Geoffrey Wilde; Dahbia Mokhbi Soukane; Saeed A Shirazi-Adl; Jill P G Urban |
Publication Detail:
|
Type: Comparative Study; Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't; Review |
Journal Detail:
|
Title: The Journal of bone and joint surgery. American volume Volume: 88 Suppl 2 ISSN: 0021-9355 ISO Abbreviation: J Bone Joint Surg Am Publication Date: 2006 Apr |
Date Detail:
|
Created Date: 2006-04-05 Completed Date: 2006-05-22 Revised Date: 2010-10-25 |
Medline Journal Info:
|
Nlm Unique ID: 0014030 Medline TA: J Bone Joint Surg Am Country: United States |
Other Details:
|
Languages: eng Pagination: 30-5 Citation Subset: AIM; IM |
Affiliation:
|
University Laboratory of Physiology, Oxford University, Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3PT, United Kingdom. |
Export Citation:
|
APA/MLA Format Download EndNote Download BibTex |
| MeSH Terms | |
Descriptor/Qualifier:
|
Biological Transport
/
physiology Cells, Cultured Energy Metabolism / physiology* Glucose / metabolism* Humans Intervertebral Disk / cytology*, metabolism* Oxygen / metabolism Regeneration / physiology Sensitivity and Specificity Spinal Diseases / etiology, physiopathology |
| Chemical | |
Reg. No./Substance:
|
50-99-7/Glucose; 7782-44-7/Oxygen |
From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine
Previous Document: Extracellular matrix in disc degeneration.
Next Document: Modeling changes in intervertebral disc mechanics with degeneration.