Intervertebral disk (IVD) degeneration is commonly described by loss of height and hydration. However, in the first stage of IVD degeneration, this loss has not yet occurred. In the current study, we use an ex vivo degeneration model to analyze the changes in IVDs mechanical behavior in the first phase of degeneration. We characterize these changes by stretched-exponential fitting, and suggest the fitted parameters as markers for early degeneration. Enzymatic degeneration of healthy lumbar caprine IVDs was induced by injecting 100 μL of Chondroïtinase ABC (Cabc) into the nucleus. A no-intervention and phosphate buffered saline (PBS) injected group were used as controls. IVDs were cultured in a bioreactor for 20 days under diurnal, simulated-physiological loading (SPL) conditions. Disk deformation was continuously monitored. Changes in disk height recovery behavior were quantified using stretched-exponential fitting. Disk height, histological sections, and water- and glycosaminoglycan (GAG)-content measurements were used as gold standards for the degenerative state. Cabc injection caused significant GAG loss from the nucleus and had detrimental effects on poro-elastic mechanical properties of the IVDs. These were progressive over time, with a propensity toward more linear recovery behavior. On histological sections, both PBS and Cabc injected IVDs showed moderate degeneration. A small GAG loss yields changes in IVD recovery behavior, which can be quantified with stretched-exponential fitting. Parameters changed significantly compared to control. Studies on disk degeneration and biomaterial engineering for degenerative disk disease (DDD) could benefit from focusing on IVD biomechanical behavior rather than height and water-content, as a marker for early disk degeneration.
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September 2018
Research-Article
Changes in Intervertebral Disk Mechanical Behavior During Early Degeneration
Cornelis P. L. Paul,
Cornelis P. L. Paul
Department of Orthopedic Surgery,
Academic Medical Center,
University of Amsterdam,
Amsterdam Movement Sciences,
Amsterdam 1105 AZ, The Netherlands
Academic Medical Center,
University of Amsterdam,
Amsterdam Movement Sciences,
Amsterdam 1105 AZ, The Netherlands
Search for other works by this author on:
Kaj S. Emanuel,
Kaj S. Emanuel
Department of Orthopedic Surgery,
Academic Medical Center,
University of Amsterdam,
Amsterdam Movement Sciences,
Amsterdam 1105 AZ, The Netherlands
Academic Medical Center,
University of Amsterdam,
Amsterdam Movement Sciences,
Amsterdam 1105 AZ, The Netherlands
Search for other works by this author on:
Idsart Kingma,
Idsart Kingma
Department of Human Movement Sciences,
Vrije Universiteit,
Amsterdam Movement Sciences,
Amsterdam 1081 BT, The Netherlands
Vrije Universiteit,
Amsterdam Movement Sciences,
Amsterdam 1081 BT, The Netherlands
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Albert J. van der Veen,
Albert J. van der Veen
Department of Physics and
Medical Technology,
VU University Medical Center,
Amsterdam 1081 HV, The Netherlands
Medical Technology,
VU University Medical Center,
Amsterdam 1081 HV, The Netherlands
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Roderick M. Holewijn,
Roderick M. Holewijn
Department of Orthopedic Surgery,
VU University Medical Center,
Amsterdam 1081 HV, The Netherlands
VU University Medical Center,
Amsterdam 1081 HV, The Netherlands
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Pieter-Paul A. Vergroesen,
Pieter-Paul A. Vergroesen
Department of Orthopedic Surgery,
VU University Medical Center,
Amsterdam 1081 HV, The Netherlands
VU University Medical Center,
Amsterdam 1081 HV, The Netherlands
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Peter M. van de Ven,
Peter M. van de Ven
Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics,
VU University Medical Center,
Amsterdam 1081 BT, The Netherlands
VU University Medical Center,
Amsterdam 1081 BT, The Netherlands
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Margriet G. Mullender,
Margriet G. Mullender
Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and
Hand Surgery,
VU University Medical Center,
Amsterdam 1081 HV, The Netherlands
Hand Surgery,
VU University Medical Center,
Amsterdam 1081 HV, The Netherlands
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Marco N. Helder,
Marco N. Helder
Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery,
VU University Medical Center,
Amsterdam 1081 HV, The Netherlands
VU University Medical Center,
Amsterdam 1081 HV, The Netherlands
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Theodoor H. Smit
Theodoor H. Smit
Department of Orthopedic Surgery,
Academic Medical Center,
University of Amsterdam,
Amsterdam Movement Sciences,
Amsterdam 1105 AZ, The Netherlands;
Academic Medical Center,
University of Amsterdam,
Amsterdam Movement Sciences,
Amsterdam 1105 AZ, The Netherlands;
Department of Medical Biology,
Academic Medical Center,
University of Amsterdam,
Amsterdam 1105 AZ, The Netherlands
e-mail: t.h.smit@amc.uva.nl
Academic Medical Center,
University of Amsterdam,
Amsterdam 1105 AZ, The Netherlands
e-mail: t.h.smit@amc.uva.nl
Search for other works by this author on:
Cornelis P. L. Paul
Department of Orthopedic Surgery,
Academic Medical Center,
University of Amsterdam,
Amsterdam Movement Sciences,
Amsterdam 1105 AZ, The Netherlands
Academic Medical Center,
University of Amsterdam,
Amsterdam Movement Sciences,
Amsterdam 1105 AZ, The Netherlands
Kaj S. Emanuel
Department of Orthopedic Surgery,
Academic Medical Center,
University of Amsterdam,
Amsterdam Movement Sciences,
Amsterdam 1105 AZ, The Netherlands
Academic Medical Center,
University of Amsterdam,
Amsterdam Movement Sciences,
Amsterdam 1105 AZ, The Netherlands
Idsart Kingma
Department of Human Movement Sciences,
Vrije Universiteit,
Amsterdam Movement Sciences,
Amsterdam 1081 BT, The Netherlands
Vrije Universiteit,
Amsterdam Movement Sciences,
Amsterdam 1081 BT, The Netherlands
Albert J. van der Veen
Department of Physics and
Medical Technology,
VU University Medical Center,
Amsterdam 1081 HV, The Netherlands
Medical Technology,
VU University Medical Center,
Amsterdam 1081 HV, The Netherlands
Roderick M. Holewijn
Department of Orthopedic Surgery,
VU University Medical Center,
Amsterdam 1081 HV, The Netherlands
VU University Medical Center,
Amsterdam 1081 HV, The Netherlands
Pieter-Paul A. Vergroesen
Department of Orthopedic Surgery,
VU University Medical Center,
Amsterdam 1081 HV, The Netherlands
VU University Medical Center,
Amsterdam 1081 HV, The Netherlands
Peter M. van de Ven
Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics,
VU University Medical Center,
Amsterdam 1081 BT, The Netherlands
VU University Medical Center,
Amsterdam 1081 BT, The Netherlands
Margriet G. Mullender
Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and
Hand Surgery,
VU University Medical Center,
Amsterdam 1081 HV, The Netherlands
Hand Surgery,
VU University Medical Center,
Amsterdam 1081 HV, The Netherlands
Marco N. Helder
Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery,
VU University Medical Center,
Amsterdam 1081 HV, The Netherlands
VU University Medical Center,
Amsterdam 1081 HV, The Netherlands
Theodoor H. Smit
Department of Orthopedic Surgery,
Academic Medical Center,
University of Amsterdam,
Amsterdam Movement Sciences,
Amsterdam 1105 AZ, The Netherlands;
Academic Medical Center,
University of Amsterdam,
Amsterdam Movement Sciences,
Amsterdam 1105 AZ, The Netherlands;
Department of Medical Biology,
Academic Medical Center,
University of Amsterdam,
Amsterdam 1105 AZ, The Netherlands
e-mail: t.h.smit@amc.uva.nl
Academic Medical Center,
University of Amsterdam,
Amsterdam 1105 AZ, The Netherlands
e-mail: t.h.smit@amc.uva.nl
1Corresponding author.
Manuscript received September 22, 2017; final manuscript received March 22, 2018; published online May 24, 2018. Assoc. Editor: James C. Iatridis.
J Biomech Eng. Sep 2018, 140(9): 091008 (9 pages)
Published Online: May 24, 2018
Article history
Received:
September 22, 2017
Revised:
March 22, 2018
Citation
Paul, C. P. L., Emanuel, K. S., Kingma, I., van der Veen, A. J., Holewijn, R. M., Vergroesen, P. A., van de Ven, P. M., Mullender, M. G., Helder, M. N., and Smit, T. H. (May 24, 2018). "Changes in Intervertebral Disk Mechanical Behavior During Early Degeneration." ASME. J Biomech Eng. September 2018; 140(9): 091008. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4039890
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