Biomaterial Database

Aging changes in the macromolecular organization of the intervertebral disc: an X-ray diffraction and electron microscopic study. 1982

D S Hickey, and D W Hukins

The macromolecular organization, in particular the collagen fibril network, of annulus fibrosus has been investigated, in humans and a strain of mice reared for aging research, by X-ray diffraction and electron microscopy. Collagen fibrils are arranged into fibers which are tilted so that the disc can perform its mechanical function. In neither mice nor humans did the tilt change with age, despite abnormal spinal curvature observed in aging mice. The spread of fibrils appears to decrease with age in anterior human annulus, but this is unlikely to affect function. Elastic fibers are associated with the collagen in mouse and human material of all ages. Aging is associated with the appearance of larger collagen fibrils, especially in human annulus. Increased radius and the biochemical changes which occur during aging may increase the likelihood of an overstressed region of annulus tearing.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007403	Intervertebral Disc	Any of the 23 plates of fibrocartilage found between the bodies of adjacent VERTEBRAE.	Disk, Intervertebral,Intervertebral Disk,Disc, Intervertebral,Discs, Intervertebral,Disks, Intervertebral,Intervertebral Discs,Intervertebral Disks
D008297	Male		Males
D008810	Mice, Inbred C57BL	One of the first INBRED MOUSE STRAINS to be sequenced. This strain is commonly used as genetic background for transgenic mouse models. Refractory to many tumors, this strain is also preferred model for studying role of genetic variations in development of diseases.	Mice, C57BL,Mouse, C57BL,Mouse, Inbred C57BL,C57BL Mice,C57BL Mice, Inbred,C57BL Mouse,C57BL Mouse, Inbred,Inbred C57BL Mice,Inbred C57BL Mouse
D008854	Microscopy, Electron	Microscopy using an electron beam, instead of light, to visualize the sample, thereby allowing much greater magnification. The interactions of ELECTRONS with specimens are used to provide information about the fine structure of that specimen. In TRANSMISSION ELECTRON MICROSCOPY the reactions of the electrons that are transmitted through the specimen are imaged. In SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPY an electron beam falls at a non-normal angle on the specimen and the image is derived from the reactions occurring above the plane of the specimen.	Electron Microscopy
D008875	Middle Aged	An adult aged 45 - 64 years.	Middle Age
D011489	Protein Denaturation	Disruption of the non-covalent bonds and/or disulfide bonds responsible for maintaining the three-dimensional shape and activity of the native protein.	Denaturation, Protein,Denaturations, Protein,Protein Denaturations
D003094	Collagen	A polypeptide substance comprising about one third of the total protein in mammalian organisms. It is the main constituent of SKIN; CONNECTIVE TISSUE; and the organic substance of bones (BONE AND BONES) and teeth (TOOTH).	Avicon,Avitene,Collagen Felt,Collagen Fleece,Collagenfleece,Collastat,Dermodress,Microfibril Collagen Hemostat,Pangen,Zyderm,alpha-Collagen,Collagen Hemostat, Microfibril,alpha Collagen
D003239	Connective Tissue Cells	A group of cells that includes FIBROBLASTS, cartilage cells, ADIPOCYTES, smooth muscle cells, and bone cells.	Cell, Connective Tissue,Cells, Connective Tissue,Connective Tissue Cell
D005260	Female		Females
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man