Liang Yang1, Cheng Yang, Xiaodong Pang, Duanming Li, Hong Yang, Xinwu Zhang, Yi Yang, Baogan Peng. 1. *Department of Spinal Surgery, General Hospital of Armed Police Force, Beijing, China †Department of Orthopeadics, Xijing Hospital, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China ‡Department of Orthopedics, Pingjin Hospital, Logistics College of Armed Police Forces, Tianjin, China §Department of Orthopeadics, Changzheng Hospital, Shanghai, China ¶Department of Pathology, General Hospital of Armed Police Force, Beijing, China ||Department of Pathology, 304th Hospital, Beijing, China.
Abstract
STUDY DESIGN: We collected the samples of cervical intervertebral discs from patients with vertigo to examine the distribution and types of mechanoreceptors in diseased cervical disc. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine whether mechanoreceptors are distributed more abundantly in cervical discs from patients with cervical spondylosis, and whether they are related to vertigo. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Previous limited studies have found that normal cervical intervertebral discs are supplied with mechanoreceptors that have been considered responsible for proprioceptive functions. Several clinical studies have indicated that the patients with cervical spondylosis manifested significantly impaired postural control and subjective balance disturbance. METHODS: We collected 77 samples of cervical discs from 62 cervical spondylosis patients without vertigo, 61 samples from 54 patients with vertigo, and 40 control samples from 8 cadaveric donors to investigate distribution of mechanoreceptors containing neurofilament (NF200) and S-100 protein immunoreactive nerve endings. RESULTS: The immunohistochemical investigation revealed that the most frequently encountered mechanoreceptors were the Ruffini corpuscles in all groups of cervical disc samples. They were obviously increased in the number and deeply ingrown into inner annulus fibrosus and even into nucleus pulposus in the diseased cervical discs from patients with vertigo in comparison with the discs from patients without vertigo and control discs. Only three Golgi endings were seen in the three samples from patients with vertigo. No Pacinian corpuscles were found in any samples of cervical discs. CONCLUSION: The diseased cervical discs from patients with vertigo had more abundant distribution of Ruffini corpuscles than other discs. A positive association between the increased number and ingrowth of Ruffini corpuscles in the diseased cervical disc and the incidence of vertigo in the patients with cervical spondylosis was found, which may indicate a key role of Ruffini corpuscles in the pathogenesis of vertigo of cervical origin. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 1.
STUDY DESIGN: We collected the samples of cervical intervertebral discs from patients with vertigo to examine the distribution and types of mechanoreceptors in diseased cervical disc. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine whether mechanoreceptors are distributed more abundantly in cervical discs from patients with cervical spondylosis, and whether they are related to vertigo. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Previous limited studies have found that normal cervical intervertebral discs are supplied with mechanoreceptors that have been considered responsible for proprioceptive functions. Several clinical studies have indicated that the patients with cervical spondylosis manifested significantly impaired postural control and subjective balance disturbance. METHODS: We collected 77 samples of cervical discs from 62 cervical spondylosispatients without vertigo, 61 samples from 54 patients with vertigo, and 40 control samples from 8 cadaveric donors to investigate distribution of mechanoreceptors containing neurofilament (NF200) and S-100 protein immunoreactive nerve endings. RESULTS: The immunohistochemical investigation revealed that the most frequently encountered mechanoreceptors were the Ruffini corpuscles in all groups of cervical disc samples. They were obviously increased in the number and deeply ingrown into inner annulus fibrosus and even into nucleus pulposus in the diseased cervical discs from patients with vertigo in comparison with the discs from patients without vertigo and control discs. Only three Golgi endings were seen in the three samples from patients with vertigo. No Pacinian corpuscles were found in any samples of cervical discs. CONCLUSION: The diseased cervical discs from patients with vertigo had more abundant distribution of Ruffini corpuscles than other discs. A positive association between the increased number and ingrowth of Ruffini corpuscles in the diseased cervical disc and the incidence of vertigo in the patients with cervical spondylosis was found, which may indicate a key role of Ruffini corpuscles in the pathogenesis of vertigo of cervical origin. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 1.
Authors: Charlotte De Vestel; Luc Vereeck; Susan A Reid; Vincent Van Rompaey; Joris Lemmens; Willem De Hertogh Journal: J Man Manip Ther Date: 2022-04-06