Surgical removal and controlled trypsinization of the outer annulus fibrosus improves the bioactivity of the nucleus pulposus in a disc bioreactor culture.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The maintenance of nucleus pulposus (NP) viability in vitro is difficult. The annulus fibrosus (AF) pathway reflects one nutrient transport channel and may have an important effect on NP viability in disc organ cultures. The present study describes a feasible disc pre-treatment involving the AF and investigates its efficacy in improving NP bioactivity in an in vitro disc bioreactor culture.

Methods

Rabbit discs that were randomly assigned to the experimental group (EG) were pretreated via the surgical removal and controlled trypsinization of the outer AF. The discs in the control group (CG) did not receive any special treatment. All discs were organ-cultured in a self-developed bioreactor. Solute transport into the central NP was measured using a methylene blue so

SUBMITTER: Li P 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4802625 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature