Der Einflu� der mechanischen Faktoren auf die Struktur der Zwischenwirbelscheiben

Changes in the Vertebral Column of Aging Mice

“…The growth zones aged slowly and epiphyseodiaphyseal union was an exception rather than the rule, occurring only in a few very old animals. The sequel of changes was entirely comparable to the usual course of epiphyseal development; thus there seems to be no basis for the claim, that mechanical stress as produced in quadruped animals made bipedal by surgical removal of the forelimbs [29,30] is involved in bringing about these changes. During the early stages of observation, growth zones of males were slightly retarded as compared to those of females, and the cartilage of C57BI mice aged more gradually than that of DBA mice.…”

“…The finding of a necrotic nucleus in a 6-months-old mouse points to causes other than age in the pathogenesis of such lesions; loss of mucopolysaccharide for whatever reason has been incriminated as the initiating factor [17]. The mechanical stress of erect posture [29,30] may be ruled out as an etiologic factor in as much as severe disc degeneration and prolapse occur spon taneously in quadruped animals which presumably are free from metabolic skeletal disorders. In animals with chondrodystrophic traits, mechanical factors may assume an accessory etiologic role, when acting on pathologically altered discs.…”

Morphometric analysis of vertebrae and intervertebral discs as a basis of disc replacement

“…In addition to the problems concerning artificial discs discussed in this paper, there are certainly many more similar problems that can only be solved during manufacture, using experimental models. Reported studies, e.g., those by Hirsch and Nachemson (1954), Brown et al (19571, Wu et al (19761, Lin et al (19781, Frymoyer et al (19791, Roy-Camille et al (1986), Steffee et al (1986)) and Zindrick et al (1986) would appear to provide a sound basis, although they were based on human or animal specimens (Wassilev and Diamov, 1970) rather than on nonorganic material (which is necessary for manufacturing of artificial discs).…”