Exploring the correlation between magnetic resonance diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) parameters and aquaporin expression and biochemical composition content in degenerative intervertebral disc nucleus pulposus tissue: a clinical experimental study

Bibliographic Details
Title: Exploring the correlation between magnetic resonance diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) parameters and aquaporin expression and biochemical composition content in degenerative intervertebral disc nucleus pulposus tissue: a clinical experimental study
Authors: Shuang Chen, Shenglu Sun, Nan Wang, Xiaoyang Fang, Lin Xie, Fei Hu, Zhipeng Xi
Source: BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders, Vol 26, Iss 1, Pp 1-13 (2025)
Publisher Information: BMC, 2025.
Publication Year: 2025
Collection: LCC:Diseases of the musculoskeletal system
Subject Terms: Intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD), Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), Aquaporins, Glycosaminoglycan content, Collagen content, Diseases of the musculoskeletal system, RC925-935
More Details: Abstract Objective This study investigates the correlation between magnetic resonance diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) parameters and biochemical composition in degenerative intervertebral disc nucleus pulposus tissue, offering a potential reference for the clinical diagnosis and efficacy evaluation of intervertebral disc degeneration. Methods Human lumbar intervertebral disc nucleus pulposus tissue samples were collected via full endoscopic minimally invasive surgery. DTI was employed to quantitatively measure fractional anisotropy (FA) and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values in the degenerative nucleus pulposus, examining the relationship between Pfirrmann grading and these DTI parameters. Western blotting was used to detect the expression levels of aquaporin 1 (AQP1) and aquaporin 3 (AQP3) in the degenerative tissue. The glycosaminoglycan (GAG) content was quantified using the dimethylmethylene blue (DMMB) colorimetric assay, and collagen content was assessed with the Sircol soluble collagen assay kit. The relationship between Pfirrmann grading and biochemical composition was also analyzed. Finally, correlation analysis was performed between the FA and ADC values from the human nucleus pulposus tissue and their GAG and collagen contents. Results A total of 39 patients (19 males, 20 females) with lumbar disc herniation (LDH), averaging 54.41 years of age, were included. As the degree of Pfirrmann degeneration increased, FA values rose, while ADC values continuously declined. Concurrently, as degeneration progressed, expression of AQP1 and AQP3 proteins decreased, GAG content significantly diminished, and collagen content increased. FA values exhibited a moderate negative correlation with GAG content (r = -0.5974, P
Document Type: article
File Description: electronic resource
Language: English
ISSN: 1471-2474
Relation: https://doaj.org/toc/1471-2474
DOI: 10.1186/s12891-025-08382-9
Access URL: https://doaj.org/article/efeb19c9e8784ec38926e07e4c9895c8
Accession Number: edsdoj.feb19c9e8784ec38926e07e4c9895c8
Database: Directory of Open Access Journals
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ISSN:14712474
DOI:10.1186/s12891-025-08382-9
Published in:BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders
Language:English