3D characterization of morphological changes in the intervertebral disc and endplate during aging: A propagation phase contrast synchrotron micro-tomography study

Developers

Yong Cao, Shenghui Liao, Chunyue Duan, Jianzhong Hu et al.

Description of the technology

A better understanding of functional changes in the intervertebral disc and interaction with endplate is essential to elucidate the pathogenesis of intervertebral disc degeneration disease. To date, the simultaneous depiction of 3D micro-architectural changes of endplate with aging and interaction with the intervertebral disc remains a technical challenge.

The technology is aimed to characterize the 3D morphology changes of endplate and the intervertebral disc during aging using propagation phase contrast synchrotron micro-tomography (PPCST). The lumbar vertebral level 4/5 the intervertebral discs harvested from 15-day-, 4- and 24-month-old mice were initially evaluated by PPCST with histological sections subsequently analyzed to confirm the imaging efficiency. Quantitative assessments of age-related trends after aging, including mean diameter, volume fraction and connectivity of the canals, and endplate porosity and thickness, reached a peak at 4 months and significantly decreased at 24 months. The intervertebral disc volume consistently exhibited same trend of variation with the endplate after aging. In this study, PPCST simultaneously provided comprehensive details of 3D morphological changes of the intervertebral disc and canal network in the endplate and the interaction after aging.

Practical application

This technology, using propagation phase contrast synchrotron micro-tomography (PPCST), is a promising imaging tool with great functionality for providing complete information about the 3D morphological changes in the intervertebral disc and endplate during aging. The results suggest that PPCST has the potential to provide a new platform for attaining a deeper insight into the pathogenesis of intervertebral disc degeneration disease, providing potential therapeutic targets.

The technology can be used both in experimental studies of the aging processes in the musculoskeletal system and as a diagnostic method in clinical practice.

Laboratories

• Department of Spine Surgery, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha (China)
• School of Information Science and Engineering, Central South University, Changsha, Changsha (China)
• Pediatrics-Endocrinology. Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore (USA)

Links

Publications

• Cao, Y. et al. «3D characterization of morphological changes in the intervertebral disc and endplate during aging: A propagation phase contrast synchrotron micro-tomography study." 7 Scientific Reports (2017): 43094.
• Cao, Y. et al. «3D visualization of the lumbar facet joint after degeneration using propagation phase contrast micro-tomography." 6 Sci Rep (2016): 21838.