In order to compare the difference between young and old intervertebral disc cells and theirresponsiveness to recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 (rhBMP-2),disc cells were isolatedfrom the anulus fibrosus (AF) and transition zones of lumbar discs from eight old and eight young NewZealand white rabbits.Compared with the ceils from the young rabbits,cells from old rabbits respond less torhBMP-2 treatment with respect to sulfated-glycosaminoglycan (sGAG) synthesis and aggrecan geneexpression.But in collagen Ⅰ and collagen Ⅱ gene expressions,there are no significant differences betweenthe old and the young.When comparing sGAG content,aggrecan,and collagen Ⅱ gene expression of the oldAF cells after rhBMP-2 treatment with that of the young AF cells without rhBMP-2 treatment,the old AFcells with rhBMP-2 treatment have a greater capacity to synthesize sGAG bound in the cells and to releasesGAG in the media,as well as to express aggrecan and collagen Ⅱ gene.It can be concluded that old AF cellsafter rhBMP-2 treatment have a greater capacity to synthesize sGAG and express aggrecan and collagen Ⅱ ascompared to young AF cells without rhBMP-2 treatment.Thus rhBMP-2 can reverse the decline in theanabolic capacity of the disc cells with ageing.So it seems that rhBMP-2 has potential for use as an agent toretard a key component of disc degeneration and loss of disc matrix. In order to compare the difference between young and old intervertebral disc cells and their responsiveness to recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 (rhBMP-2), disc cells were isolatedfrom the anulus fibrosus (AF) and transition zones of lumbar discs from eight old and eight young New Zealander white rabbits. Compared with the ceils from the young rabbits, cells from old rabbits respond less torh BMP-2 treatment with respect to sulfated-glycosaminoglycan (sGAG) synthesis and aggrecan gene expression. But in collagen I and collagen II gene expressions, there are no significant differences betweent old and the young. When comparing sGAG content, aggrecan, and collagen II gene expression of the old AF cells after rhBMP-2 treatment with that of the young AF cells without rhBMP-2 treatment, the old AF cells with rhBMP-2 treatment have a greater capacity to synthesize sGAG bound in the cells and to releases GAG in the media, as well as to express aggrecan and collagen II gene .It can be conclude d that old AF cells after rhBMP-2 treatment had a greater capacity to synthesize sGAG and express aggrecan and collagen II ascompared to young AF cells without rhBMP-2 treatment. tiBrBMP-2 can reverse the decline in the anabolic capacity of the disc cells with aging .So it seems that rhBMP-2 has potential for use as an agent toretard a key component of disc degeneration and loss of disc matrix.