Lee Robert S, Kayser Mike V, Ali S Yousuf
Institute of Orthopaedics, Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital, Stanmore, Middlesex, UK.
J Anat. 2006 Jan;208(1):13-9. doi: 10.1111/j.1469-7580.2006.00504.x.
A variety of crystals have been identified in both normal and pathological connective tissues. Calcium phosphate 'cuboidal' microcrystal deposition has been found, using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), in femoral articular cartilage, where they are distributed as a band 5-50 microm beneath the articular surface. These cuboid microcrystals have been identified as magnesium whitlockite. Our objective was to investigate their presence in the human intervertebral disc. In this study, two degenerate and 15 scoliotic discs were examined using light microscopy and TEM techniques to determine the presence of calcium phosphate crystals. Calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate (CPPD) deposition was identified in one degenerate disc specimen. Using TEM and electron probe analysis, cuboid microcrystals were identified in the annulus fibrosus and nucleus pulposus of both degenerate specimens, but not in the discs from young scoliotic patients. Cuboid microcrystal deposition was found predominantly around cells, which were mainly necrotic, with some association with extracellular lipidic/membranous debris. This is the first TEM report of whitlockite in the intervertebral disc. In one specimen coexistence of cuboid and CPPD crystal deposition was found.
在正常和病理状态的结缔组织中均已鉴定出多种晶体。利用透射电子显微镜（TEM），在股骨关节软骨中发现了磷酸钙“立方形”微晶沉积，它们在关节表面下方5 - 50微米处以条带形式分布。这些立方形微晶已被鉴定为镁磷钙矿。我们的目的是研究它们在人类椎间盘中的存在情况。在本研究中，使用光学显微镜和TEM技术检查了两个退变椎间盘和15个脊柱侧弯椎间盘，以确定磷酸钙晶体的存在。在一个退变椎间盘标本中鉴定出了二水焦磷酸钙（CPPD）沉积。利用TEM和电子探针分析，在两个退变标本的纤维环和髓核中均鉴定出了立方形微晶，但在年轻脊柱侧弯患者的椎间盘中未发现。立方形微晶沉积主要见于细胞周围，这些细胞主要为坏死细胞，且与细胞外脂质/膜性碎片有一定关联。这是关于椎间盘中磷钙矿的首篇TEM报告。在一个标本中发现了立方形微晶和CPPD晶体沉积共存的情况。
