Skip to main content
Top
Published in: European Spine Journal 5/2013

01-05-2013 | Original Article

Evoked thalamic neuronal activity following DRG application of two nucleus pulposus derived cell populations: an experimental study in rats

Authors: E. Nilsson, K. Larsson, B. Rydevik, H. Brisby, I. Hammar

Published in: European Spine Journal | Issue 5/2013

Login to get access

Abstract

Purpose

To investigate the effects on evoked thalamic neuronal activity of application of notochordal cells and chondrocyte-like cells derived from nucleus pulposus (NP) onto a dorsal root ganglion (DRG) and to compare these effects with a previously reported increased thalamic activity induced by NP.

Methods

Nucleus pulposus was harvested from tail discs of adult rats and the disc cells were separated into two cell populations, notochordal cells and chondrocyte-like cells. The two cell populations were applied separately, or in combination, to the L4 DRG of anaesthetised female Sprague–Dawley rats during acute electrophysiological experiments. In control experiments, cell suspension medium was applied on the DRG. Recordings from the contralateral thalamus were sampled for 40 min while electrically stimulating the ipsilateral sciatic nerve at above Aδ-fibre thresholds.

Results

Application of notochordal cells resulted in a decrease in evoked thalamic activity within 10 min while chondrocyte-like cells did not induce any changes during the 40 min of recording. The difference in evoked thalamic activity 40 min after notochordal and chondrocyte-like cell application, respectively, was statistically significant. Neither an increased concentration of chondrocyte-like cells alone nor a combination of the two cell populations induced any changes in thalamic activity.

Conclusions

Separate exposure of the DRG to the two NP-derived cell populations induced different effects on evoked thalamic activity, but none of the tested cell samples induced an increase in neuronal activity similar to that previously observed with NP. This indicates a high complexity of the interaction between NP and nervous tissue.
Literature
1.
go back to reference Hu SJ, Xing JL (1998) An experimental model for chronic compression of dorsal root ganglion produced by intervertebral foramen stenosis in the rat. Pain 77(1):15–23 pii:S0304395998000670PubMedCrossRef Hu SJ, Xing JL (1998) An experimental model for chronic compression of dorsal root ganglion produced by intervertebral foramen stenosis in the rat. Pain 77(1):15–23 pii:S0304395998000670PubMedCrossRef
2.
go back to reference Rydevik B, Brown MD, Lundborg G (1984) Pathoanatomy and pathophysiology of nerve root compression. Spine (Phila Pa 1976) 9(1):7–15 Rydevik B, Brown MD, Lundborg G (1984) Pathoanatomy and pathophysiology of nerve root compression. Spine (Phila Pa 1976) 9(1):7–15
3.
go back to reference Byrod G, Rydevik B, Nordborg C, Olmarker K (1998) Early effects of nucleus pulposus application on spinal nerve root morphology and function. Eur Spine J 7(6):445–449PubMedCrossRef Byrod G, Rydevik B, Nordborg C, Olmarker K (1998) Early effects of nucleus pulposus application on spinal nerve root morphology and function. Eur Spine J 7(6):445–449PubMedCrossRef
4.
go back to reference Hou SX, Tang JG, Chen HS, Chen J (2003) Chronic inflammation and compression of the dorsal root contribute to sciatica induced by the intervertebral disc herniation in rats. Pain 105(1–2):255–264 pii:S0304395903002227PubMedCrossRef Hou SX, Tang JG, Chen HS, Chen J (2003) Chronic inflammation and compression of the dorsal root contribute to sciatica induced by the intervertebral disc herniation in rats. Pain 105(1–2):255–264 pii:S0304395903002227PubMedCrossRef
5.
go back to reference McCarron RF, Wimpee MW, Hudkins PG, Laros GS (1987) The inflammatory effect of nucleus pulposus. A possible element in the pathogenesis of low-back pain. Spine (Phila Pa 1976) 12(8):760–764 McCarron RF, Wimpee MW, Hudkins PG, Laros GS (1987) The inflammatory effect of nucleus pulposus. A possible element in the pathogenesis of low-back pain. Spine (Phila Pa 1976) 12(8):760–764
8.
go back to reference Trout JJ, Buckwalter JA, Moore KC, Landas SK (1982) Ultrastructure of the human intervertebral disc. I. Changes in notochordal cells with age. Tissue Cell 14(2):359–369 [pii: 0040-8166(82)90033-7] Trout JJ, Buckwalter JA, Moore KC, Landas SK (1982) Ultrastructure of the human intervertebral disc. I. Changes in notochordal cells with age. Tissue Cell 14(2):359–369 [pii: 0040-8166(82)90033-7]
9.
go back to reference Weiler C, Nerlich AG, Schaaf R, Bachmeier BE, Wuertz K, Boos N (2010) Immunohistochemical identification of notochordal markers in cells in the aging human lumbar intervertebral disc. Eur Spine J 19(10):1761–1770. doi:10.1007/s00586-010-1392-z PubMedCrossRef Weiler C, Nerlich AG, Schaaf R, Bachmeier BE, Wuertz K, Boos N (2010) Immunohistochemical identification of notochordal markers in cells in the aging human lumbar intervertebral disc. Eur Spine J 19(10):1761–1770. doi:10.​1007/​s00586-010-1392-z PubMedCrossRef
11.
go back to reference Larsson K, Runesson E, Junevik K, Rydevik B, Brisby H (2011) Effects of intervertebral disc cells on neurite outgrowth from dorsal root ganglion explants in culture. Spine (Phila Pa 1976) 36(8):600–606. doi:10.1097/BRS.0b013e3181d8bca7 Larsson K, Runesson E, Junevik K, Rydevik B, Brisby H (2011) Effects of intervertebral disc cells on neurite outgrowth from dorsal root ganglion explants in culture. Spine (Phila Pa 1976) 36(8):600–606. doi:10.​1097/​BRS.​0b013e3181d8bca7​
12.
go back to reference Larsson K, Brisby H, Johansson BR, Runesson E, Rydevik B (2011) Electron microscopy analysis of neurites extending from dorsal root ganglia in vitro following exposure to intervertebral disc cells. Cells Tissues Organs. doi:10.1159/000330696 PubMed Larsson K, Brisby H, Johansson BR, Runesson E, Rydevik B (2011) Electron microscopy analysis of neurites extending from dorsal root ganglia in vitro following exposure to intervertebral disc cells. Cells Tissues Organs. doi:10.​1159/​000330696 PubMed
13.
go back to reference Lidslot L, Olmarker K, Kayama S, Larsson K, Rydevik B (2000) Nucleus pulposus inhibits the axonal outgrowth of cultured dorsal root ganglion cells. Eur Spine J 9(1):8–13PubMedCrossRef Lidslot L, Olmarker K, Kayama S, Larsson K, Rydevik B (2000) Nucleus pulposus inhibits the axonal outgrowth of cultured dorsal root ganglion cells. Eur Spine J 9(1):8–13PubMedCrossRef
14.
go back to reference Chen C, Cavanaugh JM, Song Z, Takebayashi T, Kallakuri S, Wooley PH (2004) Effects of nucleus pulposus on nerve root neural activity, mechanosensitivity, axonal morphology, and sodium channel expression. Spine (Phila Pa 1976) 29(1):17–25. doi:10.1097/01.BRS.0000096675.01484.87 Chen C, Cavanaugh JM, Song Z, Takebayashi T, Kallakuri S, Wooley PH (2004) Effects of nucleus pulposus on nerve root neural activity, mechanosensitivity, axonal morphology, and sodium channel expression. Spine (Phila Pa 1976) 29(1):17–25. doi:10.​1097/​01.​BRS.​0000096675.​01484.​87
15.
go back to reference Takebayashi T, Cavanaugh JM, Cuneyt Ozaktay A, Kallakuri S, Chen C (2001) Effect of nucleus pulposus on the neural activity of dorsal root ganglion. Spine (Phila Pa 1976) 26(8):940–945 Takebayashi T, Cavanaugh JM, Cuneyt Ozaktay A, Kallakuri S, Chen C (2001) Effect of nucleus pulposus on the neural activity of dorsal root ganglion. Spine (Phila Pa 1976) 26(8):940–945
16.
go back to reference Anzai H, Hamba M, Onda A, Konno S, Kikuchi S (2002) Epidural application of nucleus pulposus enhances nociresponses of rat dorsal horn neurons. Spine (Phila Pa 1976) 27(3):E50–E55 Anzai H, Hamba M, Onda A, Konno S, Kikuchi S (2002) Epidural application of nucleus pulposus enhances nociresponses of rat dorsal horn neurons. Spine (Phila Pa 1976) 27(3):E50–E55
20.
go back to reference Jack JJB (1978) Studies in neurophysiology. Some methods for selective activation of muscle afferent fibers. University Press, Cambridge Jack JJB (1978) Studies in neurophysiology. Some methods for selective activation of muscle afferent fibers. University Press, Cambridge
21.
go back to reference Ichimura K, Tsuji H, Matsui H, Makiyama N (1991) Cell culture of the intervertebral disc of rats: factors influencing culture, proteoglycan, collagen, and deoxyribonucleic acid synthesis. J Spinal Disord 4(4):428–436PubMedCrossRef Ichimura K, Tsuji H, Matsui H, Makiyama N (1991) Cell culture of the intervertebral disc of rats: factors influencing culture, proteoglycan, collagen, and deoxyribonucleic acid synthesis. J Spinal Disord 4(4):428–436PubMedCrossRef
22.
go back to reference Kim JH, Deasy BM, Seo HY, Studer RK, Vo NV, Georgescu HI, Sowa GA, Kang JD (2009) Differentiation of intervertebral notochordal cells through live automated cell imaging system in vitro. Spine (Phila Pa 1976) 34(23):2486–2493. doi:10.1097/BRS.0b013e3181b26ed1 Kim JH, Deasy BM, Seo HY, Studer RK, Vo NV, Georgescu HI, Sowa GA, Kang JD (2009) Differentiation of intervertebral notochordal cells through live automated cell imaging system in vitro. Spine (Phila Pa 1976) 34(23):2486–2493. doi:10.​1097/​BRS.​0b013e3181b26ed1​
23.
go back to reference Takahashi H, Suguro T, Okazima Y, Motegi M, Okada Y, Kakiuchi T (1996) Inflammatory cytokines in the herniated disc of the lumbar spine. Spine (Phila Pa 1976) 21(2):218–224 Takahashi H, Suguro T, Okazima Y, Motegi M, Okada Y, Kakiuchi T (1996) Inflammatory cytokines in the herniated disc of the lumbar spine. Spine (Phila Pa 1976) 21(2):218–224
24.
go back to reference Yoshida M, Nakamura T, Sei A, Kikuchi T, Takagi K, Matsukawa A (2005) Intervertebral disc cells produce tumor necrosis factor alpha, interleukin-1beta, and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 immediately after herniation: an experimental study using a new hernia model. Spine (Phila Pa 1976) 30(1):55–61 (pii:00007632-200501010-00011) Yoshida M, Nakamura T, Sei A, Kikuchi T, Takagi K, Matsukawa A (2005) Intervertebral disc cells produce tumor necrosis factor alpha, interleukin-1beta, and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 immediately after herniation: an experimental study using a new hernia model. Spine (Phila Pa 1976) 30(1):55–61 (pii:00007632-200501010-00011)
25.
go back to reference Liu B, Li H, Brull SJ, Zhang JM (2002) Increased sensitivity of sensory neurons to tumor necrosis factor alpha in rats with chronic compression of the lumbar ganglia. J Neurophysiol 88(3):1393–1399PubMedCrossRef Liu B, Li H, Brull SJ, Zhang JM (2002) Increased sensitivity of sensory neurons to tumor necrosis factor alpha in rats with chronic compression of the lumbar ganglia. J Neurophysiol 88(3):1393–1399PubMedCrossRef
Metadata
Title
Evoked thalamic neuronal activity following DRG application of two nucleus pulposus derived cell populations: an experimental study in rats
Authors
E. Nilsson
K. Larsson
B. Rydevik
H. Brisby
I. Hammar
Publication date
01-05-2013
Publisher
Springer-Verlag
Published in
European Spine Journal / Issue 5/2013
Print ISSN: 0940-6719
Electronic ISSN: 1432-0932
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00586-013-2669-9

Other articles of this Issue 5/2013

European Spine Journal 5/2013 Go to the issue