Search for: [Abstract = "This study had several aims including, but not limited to \(1\) quantification of cell density and glycosaminoglycan \(GAG\) content in cervical intervertebral discs \(IVDs\) and endplates of varying age and degeneration grade\; \(2\) analyzing fundamental relationships between endplate calcification, nutritional vessel occlusion and the role of proteins responsible for the elaboration of inorganic pyrophosphate in IVD degeneration.Sixty “C5 vertebrae\-IVD\-C6 vertebrae” complexes were excised during routine human autopsies not later than 24 hours postmortem. Further sample processing included computed microtomography, macroscopic IVD degeneration grading, histological processing, and biochemical analysis for GAG content.This study introduced several detailed 3D maps of cervical IVD and cervical endplate cell density and GAG content, which allow to correctly estimate the number of stem cells that could be injected into the IVD during degeneration stem cell treatment.This study has brought to light that, similarly to lumbar IVDs, there is a strong negative correlation between the number of endplate marrow contact channels, and both macroscopic and microscopic cervical IVD and endplate degeneration.Modulating the expression of the inorganic pyrophosphate elaborating proteins, especially ANK and TGF\-β1, may be a new way to prevent the degeneration and calcification of the IVD."]

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