Glycosaminoglycan (GAG) is one of the major components in intervertebral disc. Changes of [GAG] are believed to indicate the stages of disc degeneration. We demonstrate the validation of chemical exchange saturation transfer (CEST) approach to assess [GAG] in the disc in vitro With NMR. GAG molecule has four exchangeable sites that could exchange protons with surrounding water. This enables us to use NMR to measure [GAG] in discs by monitoring water intensity in the NMR spectrum. We demonstrate that CEST is a nice indicator of [GAG] in nucleus pulposus (NP) and annulus fibrosus, which are the two basic structures of intevertebral discs. Also, the CEST values of trypsin-degenerated NP samples show good correlations both with fixed charge density and [N-acetyl], respectively obtained from 23Na and 1H NMR spectra. This method provides a possible solution to detect early degenerated disc.

Measurement of GAG concentration in intervertebral disc via NMR method

243rd National Meeting (2012)

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