Effects of Intervertebral Disc Cells on Neurite Outgrowth From Dorsal Root Ganglion Explants in Culture

STUDY DESIGN: An experimental study investigating the effect of disc cells on neurite outgrowth in a rat dorsal root ganglion (DRG) culture system. OBJECTIVE: To examine the effects of the 2 nucleus pulposus (NP) cell populations, notochordal cells (NC) and chondrocyte-like cells (CC) on neurite outgrowth from DRGs. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: NP consists of at least 2 cell populations, NC and CC. The cells in NP have been shown to be responsible for negative effects on neurite outgrowth in vitro and on nerve tissue in vivo. It is unknown whether 1 cell type or combinations of the 2 cell types are responsible for the reported effects. METHODS: A total of 939 DRGs from newborn Sprague Dawley rats were harvested and placed in culture dishes. After 24 hours, the neurite outgrowth was measured. NP was harvested from tail discs of adult rats and the NP cells were separated into 2 populations, NC and CC. The cell populations were applied to the DRG culture in different cell concentrations and combinations, and compared to medium. After 24 hours of exposure, the neurite outgrowth was reassessed and expressed as the ratio between the outgrowth at 48 and 24 hours culture. RESULTS: NC in intermediate and high concentration and CC in high concentration induced a significant inhibition of the neurite outgrowth compared to culture medium. Further, one of the combinations (low NC and high CC concentration) resulted in a significant inhibition of the neurite outgrowth. CONCLUSION: The present study demonstrated negative effects of NP cells on nerve tissue culture explants. The combination of low NC and high CC concentrations may mimic the situation in humans, where we have an increased proportion of chondrocyte-like cells with age. The results from this study may provide a biologic explanation for the large variation of symptoms in disc herniation patients despite similar mechanical influence on nerve tissue.