2005 Fiscal Year Final Research Report Summary
Pathomechanism of thickening of the ligamentum flavum in patients with lumbar spinal stenosis
| Project/Area Number |
16591495
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| Research Category |
Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
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| Allocation Type | Single-year Grants |
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| Section | 一般 |
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| Research Field |
Orthopaedic surgery
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| Research Institution | The University of Tokushima |
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Principal Investigator |
KATOH Shinsuke THE UNIVERCITY OF TOKUSHIMA, GRADUATE SCHOOL, INSITUTE OF HEALTH BIOCIENCES, ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR, 大学院・ヘルスバイオサイエンス研究部, 助教授 (30243687)
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| Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha) |
YASUI Natsuo THE UNIVERCITY OF TOKUSHIMA, GRADUATE SCHOOL, INSITUTE OF HEALTH BIOCIENCES, PROFESSOR, 大学院・ヘルスバイオサイエンス研究部, 教授 (00157984)
MATSUI Yoshito THE UNIVERCITY OF TOKUSHIMA, GRADUATE SCHOOL, INSITUTE OF HEALTH BIOCIENCES, ASSISTANT LECTURER, 大学院・ヘルスバイオサイエンス研究部, 助手 (80335348)
HIGASHINO Kosaku THE UNIVERCITY OF TOKUSHIMA, GRADUATE SCHOOL, INSITUTE OF HEALTH BIOCIENCES, ASSISTANT LECTURER, 医学部・歯学部附属病院, 助手 (80380129)
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| Project Period (FY) |
2004 – 2005
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| Keywords | lumbar spinal stenosis / ligamentum flavum / elastic fiber / fibrosis / chondral metaplasia / thickening |
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| Research Abstract |
We investigated the pathomechanism of thickening of the ligametum flavum (LF) in patients with lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS). We analyzed LF from 90 patients with LSS using histologically and biochemically. The results were compared with these from the control group which included herniated nucleus proposus or spinal cord tumor.
Histological analysis showed that LF had two parts, ventral and dorsal. Significant changes were observed in the dorsal part. Remarkable proliferation of the fibrous tissue, increased stainability of truidin blue and chondral metaplasia were observed. The chondral metaplasia was found only at the attachment to the caudal lamina. Immunoreactivity against type II collagen increased around chondroid cells, which was surrounded by the immunoreactivities agains BMP-2, TGF-β and GDF-5. However, ossification of LF was not observed.
In the ventral part, networks of the elastic fibers were preserved and only mild thickening of the layer was observed.
Expression of mRNA of type II collagen increased with age or with the thickness of LF. Increased expression of elastin mRNA was also detected, slight though.
These findings were not correlated with radiologic findings such as instability of the affected segment or decrease of the height of the intervertebral disc.
As conclusions, main part of the thickening of LF was the dorsal part, which contained fibrosis and chondral metaplasia. However, ossification did not occur. Structure of the elastic fiber in the ventral part of LF was preserved.
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Research Products
(11 results)
