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Updated: Sep 2, 2026

Preparation of Intact Bovine Tail Intervertebral Discs for Organ Culture
Published on: February 2, 2012
Staining of glycosaminoglycans in intervertebral disc cells
Abstract:
Disc material from horse, ox, sheep, pig, dog and cat was stained by the Alcian-blue-critical electrolyte concentration technique and with the standard and two-step periodic acid Schiff methods. The effects of pretreatment with hyaluronidase and with chondroitinase was also evaluated. There appears to be a small increase in total cellular glycosaminoglycan content with age in all species: cellular material of high molecular weight however only increases in aged animals. The degree of sulphation of cellular glycosaminoglycans does not vary with age or with position in the disc.
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