Chondroitinase ABC Chemonucleolysis on Normal Rabbit's Lumbar Discs

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: This study is aimed to evaluate the effect of chondroitinase ABC on normal rabbit lumbar discs. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A series of intradiscal injections of chondroitinase ABC was performed in 9 young adult rabbits. A control series of intradiscal injections of iodine contrast medium was performed in 6 young adult rabbits. Roentgenograms were taken preoperatively and were repeated at one, three, five, seven days after injection of chondroitinase ABC. Roentgenograms also were taken preoperatiely and at seven days after injection of contrast dye. Magnetic resonance imagings(MRI) scan was performed pre-operatively and at seven days after injection. Light microscopic examination of both groups was done at 7 days postinjection. RESULTS: Roentgenographic evidence of disc space narrowing showed significant correlation with time course in the series of intradiscal injections of chondroitinase ABC compared with the control series. T2 weighted MRI of disc space demonstrated significantly decreased signal intensity in the series of intradiscal injections of chondroitinase ABC at seven days after injection, as compared with the control series. Histologic evaluation revealed the stainability of nucleus pulposus and annulus to toluidine blue which was quite decreased. The cytoplasm of notochordal cells of nucleus pulposus appeared to be shrunken, and the large cytoplasmic vacuoles in hematoxylin-eosin stain were decreased in the series of intradiscal injections of chondroitinase ABC, which were not evident in the control series. CONCLUSION: Intradiscal injections of chondroitinase ABC on normal rabbit lumbar disc proven to have chemonucleolytic effects.