Human intervertebral disc cell morphology and cytoskeletal composition: a preliminary study of regional variations in health and disease

摘要: Classically, intervertebral disc cells have been described as fibrocytic in the anulus fibrosus and chondrocytic nucleus pulposus. Recent animal studies, however, suggested that cell morphology may be more complex than previously considered. Here, by utilizing labelling of components cytoskeleton combination with confocal microscopy, we examined detailed human pathological non-pathological tissue. Filamentous-actin- vimentin-positive appeared either or were observed all discs. However, localized areas disc, stellate extended multiple, branching cytoplasmic processes into their surrounding matrix also seen. This appearance formed a marked feature regionally certain pathologies, i.e. outer scoliotic discs inner anulus/nucleus pulposus one spondylolisthetic disc. We conclude phenotypic variation should to include appearance, which prevalent tissue has subjected abnormal load tension.