It was found that the ageing process is accompanied by significant cha
nges of elastin content in human intervertebral discs. In the case of
annuli fibrosi only a slight age-related increase during the first fou
r decades of life followed by a decrease in later periods of life were
observed. In the case of nuclei pulposi the changes were much more ap
parent. A systematic decrease in elastin: collagen ratio was observed,
especially in the case of nuclei pulposi. An increase in elastin: GAG
s ratio was observed during the first 4 decades of life. After that pe
riod no further changes of the ratio were found.