Age-related changes in collagen of human intervertebral disks.

Age-related changes of human intervertebral disk collagen have been investigated. A progressive, age-related accumulation of collagen, both in annulus fibrosus and in nucleus pulposus was found. A decrease in collagen solubility was observed during physiological aging. Up to the 3rd-4th decades of life, a significant increase in the aldehyde content in disk collagen has been observed. Nuclei pulposi of the prolapsed disk contain more collagen, and its solubility was higher in comparison to corresponding necropsy material. Some alterations in the collagen of prolapsed disks may be considered as symptomatic of accelerated aging.