DETECTION OF LYMPH AND BLOOD-VESSELS IN THE HUMAN INTERVERTEBRAL DISCBY HISTOCHEMICAL AND IMMUNOHISTOCHEMICAL METHODS

Twenty-four intervertebral discs from the lumbar region of postmortem human subjects were investigated by immunohistochemical and histochemi cal methods to evaluate the pattern of blood and lymph vessels of the discus intervertebralis and surrounding tissue at different ages. Anti bodies against the basement membrane component laminin, and the lectin Ulex europaeus agglutinin as a marker for L-fucose in endothelial cel ls, were used to make the blood vessels visible. The 5'-nucleotidase a ctivity in lymph endothelium served as a marker for lymphatic vessels. The dorsolateral parts of the connective tissue adjacent to the discu s intervertebralis were well vascularized in all age groups examined. Vessels in the outer anulus fibrosus were detected in young individual s up to 20 years of age. Vascular canals, i.e. blood vessels in the ca rtilage end plate, were seen up to 7 years of age. Lymph capillaries a re first described here penetrating the disc and peridiscal tissue and accompanying most of the small blood vessels into the areas specified .