Objective To explore the expression and significance of MMP-1 and TIMP-1 in the nucleus pulposus and anulus fibrosus of intervertebral disc with different lesions.Methods From August 2014 to August 2016,34 cases of lumbar disc herniation (the observation group) and 34 case of surgical removal of intervertebral disc in patients with vertebral trauma caused by sudden trauma (the control group) in our hospital were stuided.The nucleus pulposus and anulus fibrosus of intervertebral disc were separated,and the expression of MMP-1 and TIMP-1 were detected by immunohistochemistry.The relationship between MMP-1 and TIMP-1 expression and intervertebral disc degeneration was analyzed.Results The MMP-1 and TIMP-1 expression of nucleus pulposus in the observation group were significantly higher than those in the control group(P>0.05);and the MMP-1 and TIMP-1 expression of nucleus pulposus decreased successively in prominent type,extrusion type,free type lumbar intervertebral disc degeneration(P<0.05).The MMP-1 and TIMP-1 expression of anulus fibrosus in the observation group were significantly higher than those in the control group(P>0.05);and the MMP-1 and TIMP-1 expression of anulus fibrosus decreased successively in prominent type,extrusion type,free type lumbar intervertebral disc degeneration(P<0.05).Patients with high expression of MMP-1 and TIMP-1 in nucleus pulposus and anulus fibrosus had more risk of degenerative disc disease(P<0.05).As a sensitivity prediction of intervertebral disc degeneration,the sensitivity of MMP-1 was 82.35% while the specificity was 94.11%,and the sensitivity of TIMP-1 was 79.41% while the specificity was 88.24%.The prediction sensitivity of intervertebral disc degeneration was 90.91% and the specificity was 97.14% when combined MMP-1 with TIMP-1.Conclusion The expression of MMP-1 and TIMP-1 in the nucleus pulposus and anulus fibrosus of intervertebral disc degeneration was significantly increased,which is of great clinical significance in the diagnosis of intervertebral disc degeneration.