Shh signaling from the nucleus pulposus is required for the postnatal growth and differentiation of the mouse intervertebral disc.

ABSTRACT: Intervertebral discs (IVD) are essential components of the vertebral column. They maintain separation, and provide shock absorbing buffers, between adjacent vertebrae, while also allowing movements between them. Each IVD consists of a central semi-liquid nucleus pulposus (NP) surrounded by a multi-layered fibrocartilagenous annulus fibrosus (AF). Although the IVDs grow and differentiate after birth along with the vertebral column, little is known about the mechanism of this. Understanding the signals that control normal IVD growth and differentiation would also provide potential therapies for degenerative disc disease, which is the major cause of lower back pain and affects a large proportion of the population. In this work, we show that during postnatal growth of the mouse, Sonic hedgehog

SUBMITTER: Dahia CL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3338762 | biostudies-literature | 2012

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature