Objective: The aim of this study is to elucidate the effects of transforming growth factor-${eta}$ (TGF-${eta}$)1 and L-ascorbic acid on proteoglycan synthesis, and the relationship between Sox9, proteoglycan, and TGF-${eta}1$ in intervertebral disc cells. Methods: Human intervertebral disc tissue was sequentially digested to 0.2% pronase and 0.025% collagenase in DMEM/F-12 media and extracted cells were cultured in $37^{circ}C$, 5% $CO_2$ incubator. When intervertebral disc cells were cultured with TGF-${eta}1$ or L-ascorbic acid, the production level of sulfated glycosaminoglycan (sGAG) was estimated by dimethyl methyleneblue (DMMB) assay. The changes of Sox9 mRNA and protein levels via TGF-${eta}1$ were detected by RT-PCR and Western blot analysis in each. Results: The amount of sGAG was increased with the lapse of time during incubation, and sGAG content of pellet cultured cells was much larger than monolayer culture. When primary cultured intervertebral disc cells in monolayer and pellet cultures were treated by TGF-${eta}1$ 20 ng, sGAG content of experimental group was increased significantly compared to control group in both cultures. L-Ascorbic acid of serial concentrations (50-300 ug/ml) increased sGAG content of mono layer cultured intervertebral disc cells significantly in statistics. The co-treatment of TGF-${eta}1$ and L-ascorbic acid increased more sGAG production than respective treatment. After treating with TGF-${eta}1$, Sox9 mRNA and protein expression rates were significantly increased in disc cells compared with the control group. Conclusion: This study suggests that TGF-${eta}1$ would increase sulfated glycosaminoglycan (sGAG) and other proteoglycans such as versican by elevating Sox9 mRNA and protein expressions in order.