Inflammatory Mediators in Intervertebral Disk Degeneration and Discogenic Pain

To study the effect of intradiscal injection of simvastatin on discogenic pain in rats and its possible mechanism, 30 adult female rats were used in this experiment. Twenty rats were randomly divided into sham operation group (Control group), intervertebral disk degeneration group (DDD group), intervertebral disk degeneration + hydrogel group (DDD + GEL group), and intervertebral disk degeneration + simvastatin group (DDD + SIM group). The mechanical pain threshold and cold sensation in rats were measured. The contents of NF-kappa B1, RelA, GAP43, SP, CGRP, TRPM 8, IL-1β, and TNF-α in the intervertebral disk (IVD), the corresponding contents of dorsal root ganglion (DRG) and plantar skin GAP43 and TRPM 8 were quantitatively detected by PCR. The corresponding IVDs were stained to detect their degeneration. There was no significant difference in the mechanical pain threshold between the groups at each time point. From the first day to the 8th week after surgery, the cold-sensing response of the DDD group was significantly higher than that of the Control group (P < 0.05). At 7 and 8 weeks postoperatively, the cold-sensing response of the DDD + SIM group was significantly lower than that of the DDD + GEL group (P < 0.05). The levels of NF-κB1, RelA, GAP43, SP, CGRP, TRPM8, IL-1β, and TNF-α in the IVD of DDD + SIM group were significantly lower than those in DDD group (P < 0.05). The content of GAP43 and TRPM8 in rat plantar skin decreased significantly and TRPM8 in DRG decreased significantly (P < 0.05).

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Ultrashort Time-to-Echo MRI of the Cartilaginous Endplate: Technique and Association with Intervertebral Disk Degeneration

Global Spine Journal ◽

10.1055/s-0032-1319972 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 2 (1_suppl) ◽

pp. s-0032-1319972-s-0032-1319972

Author(s):

T. Law ◽

M. P. Anthony ◽

D. Samartzis ◽

Q. Chan ◽

M. Kim ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Intervertebral Disk ◽

Intervertebral Disk Degeneration ◽

Disk Degeneration ◽

Cartilaginous Endplate

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Combination of MRI and 99mTc-NTP 15-5 Scintigraphy for the Assessment of Intervertebral Disk Degeneration and Tissue Engineering

Global Spine Journal ◽

10.1055/s-0032-1319873 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 2 (1_suppl) ◽

pp. s-0032-1319873-s-0032-1319873

Author(s):

P. Colombier ◽

J. Clouet ◽

E. Miot-Noirault ◽

A. Vidal ◽

F. Cachin ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Tissue Engineering ◽

Intervertebral Disk ◽

Intervertebral Disk Degeneration ◽

Disk Degeneration

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Raloxifene retards the progression of adjacent segmental intervertebral disc degeneration by inhibiting apoptosis of nucleus pulposus in ovariectomized rats

Journal of Orthopaedic Surgery and Research ◽

10.1186/s13018-021-02504-4 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 16 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Qi Sun ◽

Xin-Yu Nan ◽

Fa-Ming Tian ◽

Fang Liu ◽

Shao-Hua Ping ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Nucleus Pulposus ◽

Lumbar Fusion ◽

B Cell Lymphoma ◽

Intervertebral Disk ◽

Ovariectomized Rats ◽

Tunel Staining ◽

Mineral Density ◽

Vertebral Osteoporosis ◽

Intervertebral Disk Degeneration ◽

Disk Degeneration

Abstract Background Adjacent segmental intervertebral disk degeneration (ASDD) is a major complication secondary to lumbar fusion. Although ASSD pathogenesis remains unclear, the primary cause of intervertebral disk degeneration (IVDD) development is apoptosis of nucleus pulposus (NP). Raloxifene (RAL) could delay ASDD by inhibiting NP apoptosis. Methods An ASDD rat model was established by ovariectomy (OVX) and posterolateral spinal fusion (PLF) on levels 4–5 of the lumbar vertebrae. Rats in the treatment groups were administered 1 mg/kg/d RAL by gavage for 12 weeks, following which, all animals were euthanized. Lumbar fusion, apoptosis, ASDD, and vertebrae micro-architecture were evaluated. Results RAL maintained intervertebral disk height (DHI), delayed vertebral osteoporosis, reduced histological score, and inhibited apoptosis. The OVX+PLF+RAL group revealed upregulated expression of aggrecan and B-cell lymphoma-2 (bcl2), as well as significantly downregulated expression of a disintegrin and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin motifs 4 (ADAMTS-4), metalloproteinase-13 (MMP-13), caspase-3, BCL2-associated X (bax), and transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) staining. Micro-computed tomography (Micro-CT) analysis revealed higher bone volume fraction (BV/TV), bone mineral density (BMD), and trabecular number (Tb.N), and lower trabecular separation (Tb.Sp) in OVX+PLF+RAL group than in the OVX+PLF group. Conclusions RAL can postpone ASDD development in OVX rats through inhibiting extracellular matrix metabolic imbalance, NP cell apoptosis, and vertebral osteoporosis. These findings showed RAL as a potential therapeutic target for ASDD.

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