Structural Changes in Intervertebral Discs at Chronic Staphylococcus Aureus Osteomyelitis of the Tibia

摘要

Inflammatory process is not limited only local effects but could affect other organs and tissues. In the present study, we investigated the influence of tibial osteomyelitis caused by Staphylococcus aureus on extracellular matrix components of Wistar rat’s intervertebral discs. Histochemical assay was carried out on sulfated glycosaminoglycans, neutral glycoproteins and collagen fibers of nucleus pulposus. Immunochemical method was applied to I and II type collagen, fibronectin and fibulin-2. The role of persisting staphylococcal infection in the initiation and development of degenerative changes of the fibrous cartilage of intervertebral discs was demonstrated. Progressive disorders in sulfated glycosaminoglycans metabolism accompanied by changes of a fibrous component and collagen type predominance replacement suggest fibrous tranformation in intervertebral discs. Increase of neutral glycoproteins due to separate fractions, in particular, fibulin-2 could be considered as compensatory reaction on progressing overpatchings of fibrocartilage extracellular matrix components. Reorganizations mentioned are supposed to promote further dystrophic-degenerative changes in intervertebral discs.