Differential scanning calorimetric examination of the human intervertebraldisc: a preliminary study

Intervertebral disc degeneration is a common orthopaedic disorder with sign ificant social and economic impact. The major pathological changes occur in the structure of anulus fibrosus and nucleus pulposus. Differential scanni ng calorimetry (DSC) is a well-established method for the demonstration of thermal consequences of local and global conformational changes in biologic al systems. It has never been applied for the investigation of intervertebr al disc. According to the present study, the thermograms may prove and foll ow the changes in the structure of degenerated intervertebral discs. Differ ences were clearly demonstrated between the two major parts of the interver tebral discs as well as healthy and degenerated samples with the changes in total enthalpy and heat capacity. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All right s reserved.